Awards season ignited with the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on January 4 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. Hosted by Chelsea Handler for her fourth year, the event featured a star-studded red carpet and nominations for hits like The Pitt and Hacks. Celebs like Noah Wyle, Ariana Grande, and Adam Brody turned up in style, eyes on the prizes.
Oh, honey, awards season is here and it's already serving major drama! The 2026 Critics Choice Awards kicked off just days into the new year on Sunday, January 4, at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. Chelsea Handler returned as host for the fourth consecutive year, promising her signature wit while the stars aligned for glory. 🔥
Noah Wyle, 54, brought his wife Sara Wells to the red carpet, hoping to extend his win streak for HBO Max's The Pitt. He's nominated as Dr. Robby, the ER doc who had a total breakdown during a grueling 15-hour shift last season. Talk about relatable chaos! Meanwhile, Hacks power duo Jean Smart, 74, and Hannah Einbinder, 30, arrived nominated for their HBO Max roles. Hannah slayed in custom Louis Vuitton, while Jean accessorized with Saidian Vintage Jewels. Best of luck, ladies—may the best hack win. 👏
Adam Brody, 46, and wife Leighton Meester, 39, looked adorably cute together. Adam's up for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Netflix's Nobody Wants This, and Leighton even guest-starred this season. She stunned in Carolina Herrera with Chopard jewels. Iconic couple alert! Over in Wicked territory, Ariana Grande, 32, debuted her brunette locks post-Glinda blonde, paying homage in a pink Dior dress, Jimmy Choo shoes, and Bucherer jewels. She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Wicked: For Good, but co-star Cynthia Erivo got snubbed—ouch! 😬
Kathy Bates, 77, introduced new Matlock co-star Henry Haber, who plays the bro-ish Hunter. Kathy's nominated for the series, and Henry gushed on Instagram: “Stoked to be joining this team of brilliant humans❤️ @matlockcbs.” The night boasted stacked noms: Ryan Coogler's Sinners led films with 17, One Battle After Another trailed with 14. TV side? Adolescence topped with six, Nobody Wants This close behind at five. Other attendees included Teyana Taylor in Saint Laurent, Noah Schnapp from Stranger Things, and Alexander Skarsgård. The show aired live on E! and USA from 7-10pm ET/PT.
With such a glittering lineup, who will take home the hardware? Spill your predictions in the comments— this tea is just getting hot!
