If awards season has become your favourite spectator sport, the Critics Choice Awards are required viewing.
The first awards ceremony of 2026, the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards which celebrates the best in film and television, are being held today, January 5th, at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
Kicking off the season, the ceremony also serves as one of the clearest indicators of how the Oscars race is shaping up, with film critics weighing in on the year’s most talked-about performances, prestige television and breakout stars.
Ryan Coogler’s Sinners leads the 2026 nominations, coming tantalisingly close to eclipsing Barbie’s 2024 record, with an impressive 17 nominations. Close behind is Paul Thomas Anderson’s darkly comic thriller One Battle After Another with 14 nods, while Frankenstein and Hamnet each secured 11. On the television side, Netflix’s one-take sensation Adolescence led the pack, dominating the categories with six nominations.
As for local talent, Rose Byrne and Joel Edgerton each recieved nods in the best actress and best actor category while veritable internet boyfriend Jacob Elordi is nominated for his supporting role in Frankenstein.
Where To Watch The 2026 Critics Choice Awards In Australia?
In the United States, broadcast of the ceremony will air live on E! and the USA Network starting at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
For Australian’s this translates to 11am AEDT in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, 10am in Queensland and 8am in Western Australia (see the fill time conversions, below).
Exactly where Australians can tune in however, reamins unclear with no official confirmation of a streaming service hosting the ceremony. Last year, the awards were available to watch on Stan. So, you may need to tap your friend with a VPN to watch online.
| Australian Time Zone | States | Broadcast Time |
|---|---|---|
| AEDT | NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, ACT | 11.00am Monday |
| ACDT | South Australia | 10.30am Monday |
| AEST | Queensland | 10.00am Monday |
| ACST | Northern Territory | 9.30am Monday |
| AWST | Western Australia | 8.00am Monday |
What Are The Critics Choice Awards?
The Critics Choice Awards are one of Hollywood’s most influential fixtures, celebrating the best in film and television as voted by professional critics across the United States and Canada. Presented by the Critics Choice Association, the ceremony reflects critical consensus rather than industry campaigning, earning its reputation as a sharp-eyed counterpoint to more studio-driven awards.
Launched in 1995 and expanded to include television in 2011, the awards now occupy a pivotal place in the awards season calendar, often signalling which titles and performances are poised for Oscar success.
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