The nominations for the 2026 Golden Globe Awards are out, and they feature a strong cocktail of Hollywood heavyweights, international cinema newcomers and some intriguing snubs. This year’s slate reflects the changing world influence on contemporary filmmaking, and bold use of genre film to tell different stories.
Top Contenders Leading the Race – 2026 Golden Globes Nominations
This year’s hero is One Battle After Another, the title that had a massive showing with nine nominations. Meanwhile, it was a Best Picture (Musical/Comedy), Best Director and Screenplay nod for writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, which was nominated across the board in all acting categories. Reception Its positive critical response and artistic value make it a top competitor for many of the awards.
Close behind is Hamnet, Chloe Zhao’s history drama that receives six nominations in the drama categories. With a high-octane visual storytelling and emotional intensity, it’s no wonder this has been one of the critics’ favorites. Another breakout hit, directed by Ryan Coogler and titled Sinners, received seven nominations including best drama to director and cinematic achievement. Its spin on the vampire flick has distinguished it as one of this year’s most original movies.
The next global representation of countries is stronger than ever. Norweigan drama Sentimental Value received 8 nominations, and French directed filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident won 4 nominations. Movies from South Korea, Brazil, Spain and Tunisia also received significant nods in more than one category. This broad international recognition underscores the Globes’ growing desire to honor storytelling worldwide apart from language restrictions.
Surprises and Notable Snubs
Notably absent from the big categories, however: a number of highly anticipated films. The musical sequel Wicked: For Good received nods for acting and original song but did not crack the Best Motion Picture: Comedy or Musical category — a snub that came as a shock due to its popularity and commercial success.
Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt, a drama about a professor caught up in a post-MeToo scandal, was another surprising snub. Despite strong performances and critical buzz, the movie ended up with just a single nomination, far from the awards-season spotlight that some had predicted for it.
On the television side, the nominations rewarded both popular series and lesser-streamed or low-rated shows, with a couple of fan favorites left out as well. The Globes also broadened their list of categories this year to include Best Podcast, a category that reflects the growing prominence of audio storytelling.
The 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 11, 2026 will be an evening packed with transcendent talent, global representation and fierce competition in every category.
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