Golden Globes 2026 Recap: Awards Season Starts Here

Film Awards: One Battle After Another & Hament Sweep

On the film side, the Globes split their top honors by genre. One Battle After Another, an incendiary political satire, dominated the Musical or Comedy field with its Best Picture – Comedy win, while Hamnet, Zhao’s poignant take on Shakespeare’s family life, was crowned Best Picture – Drama. Hamnet’s victory was something of an upset. Industry chatter had pegged Ryan Coogler’s buzzy vampire drama Sinners as a likely frontrunner, but Zhao’s film swooped in to claim the night’s final prize. Coogler did not go home empty-handed, however. Sinners won the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award, a consolation prize of sorts for its crowd-pleasing success.

Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which led all films with nine nominations, made good on its promise. Anderson himself took Best Director, prevailing over fellow Oscar-winning heavyweights like Zhao and Guillermo del Toro, and also earned Best Screenplay. It was a banner night for the maverick filmmaker and Warner Bros., which produced the film. “I’m just glad the HFPA or whatever we call you now finally let me win something,” Anderson joked on stage, grinning as he held his Globe.

The acting categories delivered a mix of expected wins and genuine surprises. In Best Actress – Drama, Jessie Buckley claimed the Globe for her gut-wrenching turn in Hamnet. Buckley’s win was anticipated, and it cements her status as one of this year’s awards darlings. On the Best Actor – Drama side, however, a surprise name was called: Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent. Moura’s portrayal of a professor-turned-activist in Brazil’s military dictatorship era struck a chord, making him only the second Brazilian ever to win a Globe in acting. “If trauma can be passed along generations, values can too,” Moura said in a moving acceptance speech, dedicating his award to those sticking with their values in difficult moments.

The Musical or Comedy acting categories had their own narratives. Timothée Chalamet finally snagged his first Golden Globe as Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for playing an eccentric ping-pong champion in Marty Supreme. After four previous Globe nominations with no wins, Chalamet was visibly thrilled. “My dad instilled in me a spirit of gratitude growing up. I’d be lying if I said those empty-handed nights didn’t make this moment that much sweeter,” he admitted during his heartfelt speech. In Best Actress – Musical or Comedy, Rose Byrne won for her performance as a desperate mother in the dark comedy If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Byrne brought the laughs to an otherwise intense role, and her acceptance speech doubled as a mini stand-up set. Explaining why her famous husband was not by her side, Byrne deadpanned, “My brother’s my date tonight, so thanks, George. And I want to thank my husband, Bobby Cannavale, who couldn’t be here because he’s busy getting a bearded dragon at a reptile expo in New Jersey.”

In the supporting film categories, one victory in particular had social media buzzing. Teyana Taylor clinched Best Supporting Actress for her role as a revolutionary firebrand in One Battle After Another. Many prognosticators had favored veteran Amy Madigan, so Taylor’s win was a bit of a shock. On stage, she delivered one of the night’s most powerful speeches. “To my Brown sisters and little brown girls watching tonight, our softness is not a liability. Our light does not need permission to shine. We belong in every room we walk into. Our voices matter, and our dreams deserve space.” 

For Best Supporting Actor, the Globe went to Stellan Skarsgård for playing a melancholic filmmaker in Sentimental Value. This win gave Sentimental Value its sole major trophy of the night. Skarsgård kept his speech light, quipping that he was finally glad to play a role where being gloomy pays off.

Disney and James Cameron might have expected Avatar: Fire and Ash to dominate the Original Song category, but it didn’t stand a chance against the megahit of 2025. “Golden,” the catchy anthem from KPop Demon Hunters, won Best Original Song. The film also walked away with Best Animated Feature, proving that a fresh new hit can triumph over bigger studio sequels. One of the song’s writers shared her journey on stage, noting years of rejection before finding success behind the scenes.

Television Awards: Breakout Shows Takeover

If the film awards saw a few upsets, the television categories were all about new blood. In the Best TV Drama Series race, HBO’s hospital drama The Pitt took the Globe. Its win marked a shift from past years, beating out previous favorites like The White Lotus. Noah Wyle accepted Best Actor – TV Drama for his role as a driven doctor, sharing a warm moment with former ER co-star George Clooney in the audience. “I guess 15 years on the night shift prepared me for this,” Wyle joked.

Rhea Seehorn scored Best Actress – TV Drama for her role in Apple TV’s sci-fi thriller Pluribus. The win was especially sweet for Seehorn, a longtime critical favorite. Fighting back tears, she recalled meeting Queen Latifah years earlier when she was struggling to find work. “That kindness kept me going,” she said, earning a standing ovation.

In Best TV Musical or Comedy Series, The Studio emerged victorious. Seth Rogen also won Best Actor – TV Comedy for his role as a hapless studio executive. “We literally made an episode about wanting to win a Golden Globe,” Rogen laughed. “I did not think this would actually happen.” 

Limited series belonged to Netflix’s Adolescence, which swept four awards, including Best Limited Series and multiple acting trophies. Sixteen-year-old Owen Cooper became the youngest Globe winner ever in his category, joking about having school finals the following week.

Surprises & Snubs

Like any good awards show, the Golden Globes 2026 delivered plenty to debate:

• Hamnet upsetting Sinners for Best Picture – Drama shocked many observers and reshaped early Oscar chatter
• Teyana Taylor’s Best Supporting Actress win vaulted her from underdog to serious contender overnight
• New TV series like The Pitt and The Studio eclipsed fan favorites, signaling how competitive the television landscape has become

There were also lighter controversies, ranging from debates over category placement to jokes aimed at absent nominees and winners. The introduction of a Best Podcast award drew mixed reactions, but with Amy Poehler accepting the award hilariously, there’s not much to complain about. 

Oscar Race Kickoff: What the Globes Mean

With the Globes now in the rearview mirror, attention turns to the Oscars. Hamnet and One Battle After Another look poised to shape the Best Picture conversation, while acting winners like Buckley, Chalamet, and Taylor gained valuable momentum. Still, history shows Globe wins are not guarantees. The Academy often charts its own course, and guild awards will play a major role in clarifying the field.

What is clear is that the Golden Globes once again set the tone for awards season. They delivered surprise victories, emotional speeches, and just enough controversy to keep Hollywood talking. For one glittery night, as Nikki Glaser joked on stage, the Golden Globes felt like the most important thing happening in the world. And now, the long march to Oscar night begins.

For more articles like this, visit our Lifestyle News Page!