The 83rd Golden Globe Awards lit up Hollywood on Sunday night, as the film and television industry gathered at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, to celebrate outstanding achievements from the past year.
The 2026 ceremony delivered a mix of sharp humour, major surprises and dominant wins, underscoring a year marked by bold storytelling and strong performances across both the big and small screens.
American comedian Nikki Glaser set the tone for the evening with a fearless opening monologue that drew loud reactions from the star-studded audience. Glaser poked fun at Hollywood’s elite, joking about celebrities potentially appearing in the Epstein files, while also taking a swipe at CBS over its controversial editing of a critical 60 Minutes segment. Her unapologetic delivery signalled a night that would balance glamour with biting social commentary.
On the film side, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, collecting four awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Director and Best Screenplay. The film also earned Teyana Taylor the award for Best Supporting Actress, further cementing its dominance. Netflix’s coming-of-age drama Adolescence matched that feat on the television front, also securing four wins, including Best Limited Series and Best Actor in a Limited Series for Stephen Graham.
In the drama category, Hamnet claimed the coveted Best Motion Picture – Drama prize, with Jessie Buckley delivering an award-winning performance that earned her Best Actress in a Drama. The film also received recognition for its emotional depth through a Best Original Score nomination, though that award ultimately went to Ludwig Göransson for his work on Sinners. Göransson’s sweeping score added to Sinners’ strong night, which included the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award.
International cinema also received a spotlight, as The Secret Agent won Best Non-English Language Film, reinforcing the Golden Globes’ continued embrace of global storytelling. Meanwhile, KPop Demon Hunters proved unstoppable in the animated category, winning Best Animated Film and Best Original Song for “Golden,” highlighting the growing influence of animated features in mainstream awards conversations.
Acting honours were spread across a diverse range of performances. Rose Byrne won Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, while Timothée Chalamet picked up Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his role in Marty Supreme. In the supporting categories, Stellan Skarsgård earned Best Supporting Actor for Sentimental Value, a film that also secured multiple nominations across directing and acting categories.
Television categories reflected a highly competitive year, with medical drama The Pitt taking Best Drama Series and workplace satire The Studio winning Best Comedy or Musical Series. Noah Wyle was named Best Actor in a Drama Series for The Pitt, while Jean Smart continued her awards-season momentum with a Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Series win for Hacks. Rhea Seehorn also stood out, winning Best Actress in a Drama Series for Pluribus.
In the limited series categories, Adolescence dominated, earning accolades for its cast and storytelling, including Best Supporting Actress for Erin Doherty and Best Supporting Actor for Owen Cooper. The show’s multiple wins underscored the increasing prestige of limited series as a powerful storytelling format.
The ceremony also recognised achievements beyond traditional film and television. Ricky Gervais won Best Stand-Up Comedy Performance for Mortality, while Good Hang with Amy Poehler was named Best Podcast, reflecting the Golden Globes’ expanding scope in acknowledging evolving entertainment platforms.
Overall, the 2026 Golden Globe Awards celebrated creative risk-taking, global narratives and standout performances, offering a clear snapshot of an industry in transition—one that continues to blend prestige, popularity and provocation on one of Hollywood’s most closely watched nights.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards highlighted a year of bold storytelling and standout performances, with One Battle After Another and Adolescence emerging as the night’s biggest winners, underscoring the growing impact of daring films and high-quality television in shaping today’s global entertainment landscape.
