The 83rd Golden Globe Awards, held on January 12, 2026, ushered in Hollywood’s awards season with a night that celebrated an eclectic array of film, television, and—for the first time ever—podcast achievements. Hosted for a second consecutive year by Nikki Glaser, the ceremony saw both expected triumphs and headline-making upsets, as reported by outlets including Daily Mail and The Guardian.
At the heart of the evening, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another emerged as a dominant force in the comedy and musical film categories. The film clinched Best Comedy or Musical Film, while Anderson himself was honored with both Best Director and Best Screenplay awards. Teyana Taylor’s performance in the same film earned her the Best Supporting Actress statuette, a testament to the film’s broad critical appeal. According to The Guardian, this triple win cemented Anderson’s latest as “the clear standout in the comedy/musical film categories.”
In the drama categories, Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of Hamnet took home the prestigious Best Dramatic Film award, standing above fierce competition from Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent. Jessie Buckley, whose portrayal of Agnes—William Shakespeare’s wife—anchored the film, was awarded Best Dramatic Actress. The win came as little surprise to many, but the night’s biggest upset in this category was Wagner Moura’s victory for Best Dramatic Actor in The Secret Agent, a Brazilian film that also triumphed in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
Box office success was recognized with the Best Cinematic & Box Office Achievement award, which went to Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. This film not only outperformed major commercial contenders like Avatar: Fire and Ash and F1: The Movie, but also secured the Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson. As Variety noted, “Sinners did get some love,” highlighting its musical prowess and broad appeal.
Animation also had its moment in the spotlight. KPop Demon Hunters (alternately referred to as The K-pop Warriors in some coverage) captured both Best Animated Motion Picture and Best Song for “Golden.” This double win underscored the growing recognition of animated productions at major awards shows.
The acting categories in comedy and musical films delivered their own surprises. Rose Byrne, for her role in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, won Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical, besting favorites like Amanda Seyfried. As reported by IndieWire, the category was “the toughest of all to call,” making Byrne’s victory all the more notable. Timothée Chalamet’s win for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for Marty Supreme was another highlight, while Stellan Skarsgård’s performance in Sentimental Courage earned him Best Supporting Actor.
On the television front, the night was defined by the sweeping success of Netflix’s Adolescence. The series clinched Best Limited Series and swept all four acting categories it was nominated for, including Best Supporting Actor for Owen Cooper, Best Supporting Actress for Erin Doherty, and Best Actor for Stephen Graham. Cooper’s win was particularly historic: at just 16 years old, he became the youngest actor ever to win a Golden Globe in this category and the second-youngest male winner in the award’s history, as Daily Mail detailed. Balancing his studies for GCSEs with red carpet appearances, Cooper’s youth and talent were a focal point of the evening.
Stephen Graham, honored for his role in Adolescence, delivered an emotional acceptance speech, dedicating his award to his wife and family. “I’ve said it before, but you saved my life. You saved my life,” Graham told his wife Hannah Walters from the stage, earning heartfelt applause. He continued, “My dad, my pops, my hero, and I would just like to dedicate this particular award to my mom and all my friends and family, you all know exactly who you are. Without you, none of this is possible.” He also acknowledged his fellow nominees, emphasizing the camaraderie and respect that defines the awards circuit.
Erin Doherty, who also took home gold for her supporting role, used her acceptance speech to shine a light on mental health, dedicating her win to therapists everywhere. “I didn’t wanna assume, but I feel like we all know, go to therapists,” she said, drawing cheers from the audience. “I just think life can be tough, mental health is everything, so thank you therapists.”
In other television categories, The Pitt won Best Drama Series, with Noah Wyle recognized as Best Actor in a Drama Series. The Studio captured Best Comedy or Musical Series, and Seth Rogen was awarded Best Actor in this category. Jean Smart, for her role in Hacks, collected her third win as Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series, further solidifying her status as a genre icon.
Expanding beyond traditional media, the 2026 Golden Globes introduced the Best Podcast category. Spotify’s Good Hang With Amy Poehler took home the inaugural award, reflecting the growing influence of podcasts in contemporary entertainment. In the comedy realm, Ricky Gervais was recognized for Best Comedy Monologue for his special Mortality, triumphing over a field that included Bill Maher and Kevin Hart.
The ceremony’s unique structure—splitting film and television into drama and comedy/musical categories—allowed a diverse range of works to shine without direct competition. This year’s edition, as The Guardian observed, “confirmed the dominance of certain titles that also point to the next awards of the season.” With international productions, breakout performances, and new media formats all honored, the 2026 Golden Globes captured the evolving landscape of entertainment with both reverence for tradition and an eye toward the future.
As awards season continues, the night’s winners—both established and emerging—have set a high bar, hinting at the stories and talents that will define the year ahead in film and television.
