Golden Globes 2026: Winners, Surprises, and What It Means for the Oscars
There’s a distinct chill in the air in Hollywood this morning and it’s not only from the January temperatures (it is cold!), but from the buzz after the 83rd Golden Globe Awards last night on January 11! The Globes are the first of the major awards and offer a true kickstart of the season’s momentum. This year delivered big wins, surprise upsets, and a whole lot of conversation that’s sure to carry over onto the road to the big one- the 2026 Academy Awards on March 15th.
Hosted by Nikki Glaser at the Beverly Hilton, let’s dive into some of the major categories, who took home the top prizes, and what this means looking ahead to the Oscars.
Best Picture / Best Film
The Golden Globes uniquely has two “Best Picture” winners- splitting the top prize into two distinct categories. On the dramatic side, Hamnet- the emotional drama about Shakespeare’s family- emerged as Best Motion Picture – Drama. This came as a surprise for many, with the film being a late release for the year and up against favourites Sinners and Sentimental Value. It is director Chloe Zhao’s second win in this category following 2020’s Nomadland, which also went on to pick up Best Picture at the Oscars and BAFTAs. Hamnet is praised for its strong storytelling and performances- and it clearly resonated with voters.
Meanwhile, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another took home Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy- a first for Paul Thomas Anderson in this category, having been nominated twice before. One Battle After Another is a top contender across all major film awards, already having taken home Best Picture and Best Director at the Critics' Choice Awards, and receiving the most nominations in history for the 2026 Actor Awards.
This makes Hamnet and One Battle After Another a very interesting pair of early Oscar season favourites- competing from very different lanes.
Best Leading Actor
Like the Best Picture categories, the leading acting categories also split into drama and comedy or musical- and they brought some of the most talked-about moments of the evening. In the drama field, Wagner Moura snagged Best Actor for his layered, intense turn in The Secret Agent. Another pleasant surprise with fellow contenders being Hollywood A-listers Oscar Isaac, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B Jordan and Jeremy Allen White. Moura’s win in the Brazilian drama underscores his status as one of the year’s most compelling performers.
On the lighter side, Timothée Chalamet continues his dominance of the film scene in recent years with his win for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy in Marty Supreme, beating expected winner by many Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another. With Chalamet’s awards-season momentum confirmed in 2026, he is put at the forefront of Oscar watchlists.
Best Leading Actress
Jessie Buckley delivered an emotional tour de force in Hamnet, earning Best Actress – Drama, cementing her performance as one of the best of the year and earning her first Golden Globe. Buckley is one of the most consistently excellent actors working today, and it’s only a matter of time before she picks up her first Oscar, and this might be early indication that 2026 might be her year.
In the musical/comedy category, Rose Byrne stood out with her performance in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, a film that is racking up nods across the board. Upon earning her first Globe, conversation has ignited about the already multi-award winners’s Oscar potential.
Supporting Actor
Over in the supporting actor categories, Stellan Skarsgård won Best Supporting Actor for his work in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, showcasing his breadth and reminding awards voters of his enduring impact on the screen. Trier’s previous film, 2021’s The Worst Person in the World, picked up multiple awards and was hailed as one of that year’s finest achievements. Sentimental Value looks like it’ll very much be in that same conversation for 2025.
Supporting Actress
Teyana Taylor pulled off a memorable win as Best Supporting Actress in One Battle After Another, a victory that reflects both the film’s broad appeal and her stand-out supporting work. It also positions her as a favourite in the run up to the Oscars.
Best Director
In another win for Paul Thomas Anderson and One Battle After Another, the film earned Best Director- a prize that often foreshadows Oscar momentum, and it wouldn’t be surprising if it’s positioned at the top.
Beyond the headline categories, there were plenty of other standout wins. KPop Demon Hunters scooped up Best Animated Film as well as Best Original Song for “Golden,” while The Secret Agent was named Best Non-English Language Film. Composer Ludwig Göransson earned Best Original Score for Sinners, which also took home the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award.
On television, The Pitt was crowned Best Drama Series, The Studio won Best Comedy/Musical Series, and Netflix’s Adolescence dominated the limited series categories with multiple acting wins, including for Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty. Additionally, Owen Cooper became the youngest supporting actor winner ever, following the same achievement from the Emmys last year.
As we sprint toward Oscar nominations and final voting and the BAFTAs still to come next month, these winners have given audiences and voters alike plenty to talk about-and it’s a race that’s more open and exciting than ever.
Speaking of the year's best movies, check out what our team and audience liked most in 2025:
Also check out our latest label of the month for some hidden euro gems:
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