The 2026 Golden Globe Nominations just dropped, and the entertainment industry spun back into the award-season mode. This year’s list feels a bit bigger than usual, and it’s stacked with returning talents, new faces and talents in film, international standouts, and some of the most talked about performances of the year. Keep reading to find out who’s in the race for this year’s categories.
The drama film race already has two major favorites. Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro’s bold, new take on the classic story starring Oscar Isaac keeps showing up everywhere and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao and adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, is right behind it with a wave of praise for its emotional performances. They’re joined by the French thriller It Was Just an Accident, Norway’s Sentimental Value, the intense and moody Sinners, and Brazil’s espionage hit The Secret Agent. It’s one of the most international drama lineups the Globes have had in years.
The Musical or Comedy category feels much lighter and more chaotic in the best way. Blue Moon and Bugonia bring a ton of energy, while Marty Supreme and the stylish Nouvelle Vague add some unexpected creativity. Leonardo DiCaprio has people talking again, this time for a comedic role in One Battle After Another. And the Korean crowd favorite No Other Choice makes the category feel even more global.
Animation fans definitely aren’t going to be disappointed this year. Elio and Zootopia 2 represent the big studio contenders, but they’re sharing space with the massive anime hit Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, the colorful and wild KPop Demon Hunters, the poetic arthouse animated film Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and the European standout Arco. Overall, it might be one of the strongest animation lineups the Globes have had in a long time.
The Best Non-English Language category keeps the global streak going. France, South Korea, Norway, Spain, Brazil, and Tunisia all showed up with strong entries, proving how much the Globes have opened to international storytelling. Several of these titles are also nominated in major categories, which says a lot about how competitive the field is this year.
The acting categories are stacked in almost every direction. Drama actresses include Jennifer Lawrence, Jessie Buckley, Julia Roberts, Renate Reinsve, and newcomer Eva Victor, all of them coming in with buzz-heavy performances. The drama actor group might be even tighter, with Dwayne Johnson surprising critics in The Smashing Machine, Jeremy Allen White continuing his hot streak, Michael B. Jordan turning heads in Sinners, and Oscar Isaac and Wagner Moura earning praise for two of the year’s biggest films.
Comedy and musical performances bring just as many varieties. Amanda Seyfried, Emma Stone, Rose Byrne, and Kate Hudson help lead the women’s side, while Ethan Hawke, George Clooney, Lee Byung-Hun, Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jesse Plemons all secured nominations for the men.
Supporting categories came with a few unexpected moments, like Ariana Grande scoring a nomination for Wicked: For Good and Adam Sandler popping up for Jay Kelly. Emily Blunt, Elle Fanning, Stellan Skarsgård, and Paul Mescal also made strong showings.
Behind the camera, the Best Director category reads a lineup of festival headliners. Chloé Zhao, Guillermo del Toro, Jafar Panahi, Joachim Trier, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Ryan Coogler all earned nods for films that couldn’t be more different from one another. Their work shows up again in the screenplay category, which might be one of the hardest races to predict this year.
Music categories are packed with recognizable names. Alexandre Desplat, Hans Zimmer, Ludwig Göransson, Jonny Greenwood, Max Richter, and Kangding Ray make up an incredible Best Original Score group. The original song category is just as strong, with nominations for Miley Cyrus and Stephen Schwartz alongside several newer songwriting teams.
Television had just as much activity. Severance, Slow Horses, The Diplomat, and The White Lotus continue to dominate the drama categories, while Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, and Only Murders in the Building stay strong in the comedy field. Limited series nominations went to Black Mirror, Adolescence, Dying for Sex, The Beast in Me, and All Her Fault, all of which had major buzz this year.
On the acting side of television, Bella Ramsey, Britt Lower, Adam Scott, Gary Oldman, Jean Smart, Ayo Edebiri, Selena Gomez, Amanda Seyfried, Claire Danes, Sarah Snook, Jacob Elordi, and Paul Giamatti all showed up, proving how competitive TV has gotten.
And because it’s 2026, the Golden Globes are still honoring podcasts. Armchair Expert, Call Her Daddy, Smartless, The Mel Robbins Podcast, Good Hang with Amy Poehler, and Up First all grabbed nominations.
With this many heavy hitters, international breakouts, and unpredictable matchups, the 2026 Golden Globes might end up being one of the most competitive and entertaining awards nights we’ve had in years. Now the only thing left to do is wait and see who wins the Globes! Tune on January 11, 2026, on CBS and Paramount + to watch returning host Nikki Glaser for the night of celebrating film and television achievements.
