Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson has secured his second Golden Globe for best original score with his work on the film Sinners. In the best original song category, the track 'Golden' by Kpop Demon Hunters triumphed over strong competition. The score award, however, was not broadcast on television due to time constraints.
The 2026 Golden Globe Awards, held on January 11, celebrated achievements in film and television from the previous year. Among the highlights in the music categories, Ludwig Göransson won best original score for Sinners, marking his sixth nomination and second victory at the Globes. He competed against notable composers including Alexandre Desplat for Frankenstein, Jonny Greenwood for One Battle After Another, Kangding Ray for Sirāt, Max Richter for Hamnet, and Hans Zimmer for F1.
The decision by CBS and Paramount+ to exclude the best original score category from the live broadcast drew criticism. Hans Zimmer, a nominee, expressed frustration on the red carpet to Deadline: 'It feels a little bit ignorant.' He elaborated on the vital role of composers, stating, 'The composer has such an important role in making films; by the time we come to the music, the director has been through war. Our first job is to remind him why he did this film in the first place.' This cut occurred despite the addition of new categories like best podcast and cinematic achievement.
In the best original song category, 'Golden'—a global hit by Kpop Demon Hunters—won for its songwriters and lyricists: Ejae, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, Park Hong Jun, and Mark Sonnenblick. This marked their first nomination and win. The song outperformed entries such as 'Dream as One' from Avatar: Fire and Ash by Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, and Simon Franglen; 'I Lied to You' from Sinners by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson; songs from Wicked: For Good by Stephen Schwartz; and 'Train Dreams' by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner.
Ejae, the singer, accepted the award alongside her co-writers from presenters Charli XCX and Joe Keery. Fighting back tears, she shared her journey: 'When I was a little girl, I worked tirelessly for ten years to fill one dream: to become a K-pop idol. I was rejected and disappointed that my voice wasn’t good enough. So I wrote songs and music to get through it.' She concluded, 'I can confidently say rejection is redirection.'
Musicians including Miley Cyrus, Blackpink’s Lisa, Charli XCX, and Snoop Dogg served as presenters during the ceremony. For context, the 2025 Golden Globes saw Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross win best original score for Challengers, while Camille and Clément Ducol took best original song for 'El Mal' from Emilia Pérez.
