Chelsea Handler will once again serve as host of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, airing live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif on Jan. 4, 2026 – marking Handler’s fourth consecutive year as host.
Handler said in a statement: “Kicking off the year with the Critics Choice Awards feels right. Nothing says ‘new beginnings’ like a room full of critics ready to tell you how you did last year.”
CCA CEO Joey Berlin added, “Chelsea Handler is the best awards show host in the world. We are absolutely thrilled to have her back on our stage, mixing her trademark mix of humor and heart in front of hundreds of stars who enjoy her as much as we do. Recognizing and celebrating the most deserving achievements in film and television is important, but it’s also great fun and Chelsea is the perfect person to lead the parade.”
The Critics Choice Awards has added four new categories to this year’s celebration of critics’ picks for the best in film and TV: best variety series, stunt design, casting/ensemble and sound.
Top nominees this year include the Ryan Coogler film ‘Sinners’ with 17 nominations, as well as the Netflix limited series ‘Adolescence’ leading television nominees with 6 nods.
Other top film nominees include ‘One Battle After Another’ with 14 nominations, ‘Hamnet’ and ‘Frankenstein’ with 11 nods each; ‘Marty Supreme’ with 8 noms; and ‘F1,’ ‘Sentimental Value,’ and ‘Wicked: For Good’ with 7 nominations apiece.
‘Adolescence’ secured nominations for Best Limited Series, as well as acting nominations for Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, and Christine Tremarco. Other leading TV nominees include ‘Nobody Wants This’ with 5 nominations, in addition to ‘All Her Fault,’ ‘Death by Lightning,’ ‘Ghosts,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘Severance,’ ‘The Diplomat,’ and ‘The Pitt’ each with 4 nominations
For a full list of nominees, visit the official Critics Choice website.
The 31st Critics Choice Awards airs live on Sunday, Jan. 4 from Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar on E! and USA from 7-10 p.m. ET and PT.
Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com