The champagne has been poured, the red carpet rolled away, and the glitter is finally settling on the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards. As the first major stop on the 2026 awards circuit, this year’s ceremony felt like a pivotal moment for Hollywood—a distinct shift away from the safe bets of previous years towards bold, experimental storytelling. Hosted with acerbic wit and surprising warmth by stand-up sensation Taylor Tomlinson, the evening was a celebration of cinema’s resilience and television’s ever-expanding golden age.

What made this year particularly electric was the sheer unpredictability. Pundits who spent months crafting meticulously researched prediction lists found themselves tearing them up within the first hour. From indie darlings toppling studio giants to streaming services cementing their dominance over traditional networks, the 2026 Globes proved that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (and its expanded voting body) is no longer interested in simply rubber-stamping the status quo.

But beyond the statuettes, the night was defined by its humanity. We saw emotional tributes to industry legends, impassioned pleas for arts funding, and, of course, the chaotic, unscripted moments that make live television so compulsive. Whether you missed the broadcast or just want to relive the drama, we have compiled the definitive breakdown of the night. Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Golden Globes.

Complete Golden Globes 2026 Winners List

This year’s winners list reads like a diverse tapestry of genres, mediums, and voices. The voting body spread the wealth, ensuring no single project completely swept the board, which made for a thrillingly tense evening.

Film Categories

Best Motion Picture (Drama)
The night’s top prize went to Echoes of the Empire, a sprawling historical epic directed by Chloe Zhao. The film, which chronicles the decline of a fictional trade dynasty, was praised for its visual grandeur and intimate character studies. It beat out fierce competition from the psychological thriller Glass Houses and the biopic The Inventor.

Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)
In a delightful twist, the musical satire Curtain Call took home the trophy. Starring a stellar ensemble cast, the film mocks the behind-the-scenes chaos of a Broadway production. It edged out the rom-com blockbuster Love in Theory, proving that voters were in the mood for something with a bit more bite.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)
Austin Butler secured his second Globe for his transformative role in The Drifter. His portrayal of a mute wanderer searching for his family in post-war Europe was almost entirely physical, relying on expression rather than dialogue—a brave performance that clearly resonated with voters.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)
Florence Pugh was the undeniable favourite going into the night, and she did not disappoint. Her role as a pioneering female surgeon in Scalpel earned her a standing ovation. Pugh’s acceptance speech, where she dedicated the award to women in STEM, was one of the evening’s highlights.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)
Ryan Gosling returned to his comedic roots to win for The Nice Guy Returns, a legacy sequel that surprised critics with its heart. Gosling’s charm remains a potent weapon, and his chemistry with co-star Angourie Rice carried the film to victory.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)
Ayo Edebiri continued her meteoric rise, winning for the dark comedy Suburban Gothic. Playing a housewife who accidentally starts a cult, Edebiri balanced mania and vulnerability with expert precision.

Best Director
Christopher Nolan added another globe to his collection for The Horizon Line, a sci-fi thriller that bent time and space in typical Nolan fashion.

Best Screenplay
Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach took home the prize for Paper Dolls, a sharp, dialogue-heavy drama about a crumbling publishing house.

Television Categories

Best Television Series (Drama)
The crown passed from Succession to The Chancellor, a gripping political drama set in a futuristic London. Its sharp commentary on surveillance states struck a chord, beating out the final season of The Crown.

Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy)
The Bear may have ended, but its spiritual successor in the “stress-comedy” genre, Line Cook, took the top spot. The show, which follows a food truck owner in Miami, was praised for its kinetic energy.

Best Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television
The Disappearance of Alice, a true-crime adaptation starring Amanda Seyfried, won handily. The series gripped the nation for six weeks, and the Globes reflected that cultural dominance.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Drama)
Jeremy Strong returned to the winner’s circle for his role as a corrupt senator in The Chancellor.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Drama)
Sarah Snook won for Matriarch, a family saga where she plays the ruthless head of a vineyard empire.

Streaming Platform Dominance
Once again, streamers ruled the roost. Netflix and Apple TV+ combined for over 60% of the television wins, leaving traditional cable networks fighting for scraps. It is a trend that shows no sign of reversing, as the budgets and talent continue to migrate online.

Biggest Moments of the Night

Awards shows often blur into a montage of speeches, but 2026 offered several moments that will be meme-fodder for months.

The Tribute to Cinema’s Past

The evening’s most poignant segment was a surprise appearance by 96-year-old Clint Eastwood, who presented the Best Director award. The room fell completely silent as the legendary filmmaker spoke softly about the enduring power of the theatrical experience. It was a stark, grounding reminder of the history in the room, contrasting sharply with the high-tech, streaming-focused nature of the modern industry.

Taylor Tomlinson’s Monologue

Tomlinson proved to be an inspired choice for host. She managed to roast the assembled A-listers without crossing the line into cruelty—a delicate balance that previous hosts have struggled to find. Her joke about the length of Echoes of the Empire (“I watched the first half, got married, had two kids, and came back for the credits”) brought the house down and set a relaxed tone for the evening.

The “Curtain Call” Cast Performance

In a break from tradition, the cast of Curtain Call performed a live number from the film. It was chaotic, energetic, and completely charming. Seeing serious dramatic actors attempting complex choreography brought a sense of fun back to a ceremony that can sometimes take itself too seriously.

Surprises & Shock Wins

If you had a betting slip, you likely lost money on the Best Supporting Actor category.

The Indie Upset

The biggest gasp of the night came when unknown actor Kiran Shah won Best Supporting Actor for the low-budget indie Brick by Brick. Defeating heavyweights like Robert Downey Jr. and Brad Pitt, Shah’s win was a triumph for grassroots campaigning. His visibly shocked reaction—he hadn’t even prepared a speech—was arguably the most authentic moment of the broadcast.

Animation Breaks Through

For the first time in Globes history, an animated film, The Clockwork Boy, was nominated for Best Screenplay—and it won. This shattered the glass ceiling for animation, which is often segregated into its own category. The win suggests a shifting perception among voters that animation is a medium for serious storytelling, not just a genre for children.

Snubs That Sparked Debate

No awards show is complete without the outrage of the overlooked, and 2026 had plenty of omissions to fuel Twitter threads.

The Exclusion of “Solaris Redux”

Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi masterpiece Solaris Redux received rave reviews and massive box office numbers, yet it was completely shut out of the major categories. Fans were quick to decry the snub, arguing that the Globes still holds a bias against high-concept science fiction.

Viola Davis Overlooked

Despite delivering a powerhouse performance in the legal drama Objection, Viola Davis failed to secure a nomination for Best Actress. Critics called it one of the finest performances of her career, making her absence from the shortlist baffling. The hashtag #JusticeForViola was trending before the ceremony even began.

Red Carpet Highlights & Fashion Statements

The fashion narrative this year was clear: sustainability meets futurism.

Eco-Conscious Couture

Zendaya stunned in a gown made entirely from recycled ocean plastics, designed by a collaboration between Stella McCartney and a marine conservation group. It was shimmering, architectural, and sent a powerful message without sacrificing glamour.

The Return of the Tuxedo

For the men, the classic tuxedo made a roaring comeback, but with a twist. Timothée Chalamet and Paul Mescal both sported velvet textures and deep jewel tones—emerald greens and midnight blues—moving away from the stark black-and-white uniformity of the past.

Vintage Revivals

Bella Hadid raided the archives, wearing a 1996 Thierry Mugler piece that had not been seen on a red carpet in three decades. This trend of archival fashion highlights a shift towards valuing fashion history over wearing the newest off-the-runway collection.

Cultural & Industry Impact

The 2026 Golden Globes acted as a mirror to the current state of the entertainment industry.

The Global Stage

International cinema is no longer a niche interest; it is mainstream. Three of the five nominees for Best Motion Picture (Drama) were non-English language films. This reflects a globalised audience that is increasingly comfortable reading subtitles, driven largely by the accessibility of international content on streaming platforms.

The Death of the Mid-Budget Movie?

While indie films and massive blockbusters were well-represented, the mid-budget adult drama—the kind of film that used to define the Globes—was noticeably scarce in the nominations. Paper Dolls was the exception, not the rule. This polarisation of the industry raises questions about the future viability of these stories in a theatrical setting.

What the Golden Globes 2026 Means for the Oscars

Historically, the Globes are a reliable, albeit imperfect, bellwether for the Academy Awards.

Momentum Shifts

Echoes of the Empire has firmly established itself as the frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars. However, the surprise win for Curtain Call suggests that the Academy might look favourably on lighter fare this year.

Acting Races Tighten

The Best Actress race is now a dead heat between Florence Pugh and Ayo Edebiri (if she campaigns in lead). Meanwhile, Austin Butler’s win solidifies his position, but he faces stiff competition from the veterans.

Predictions for March

Expect the Oscars to double down on the technical mastery of The Horizon Line while likely honouring the emotional resonance of Echoes of the Empire. However, the Globes’ love for The Clockwork Boy could propel it to a historic Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Golden Globes will be remembered as the year the industry finally embraced the chaos of change. It was a night where an animated screenplay beat prestige dramas, where streaming shows swept the board, and where sustainability walked the red carpet.

If this ceremony is any indication, the 2026 film year is not about playing it safe—it is about breaking the mould. As we look towards the Oscars, the race is wide open, and for movie lovers, that is the most exciting prospect of all.

Did your favourites take home the gold? Or are you still fuming over the Solaris Redux snub? Let us know your thoughts and keep the conversation going.

Subscribe to our newsletter for full Oscar predictions and exclusive interviews