Watch the Critics Choice Awards This Sunday: Stream Live or On TV!

The 31st Critics Choice Awards, inaugurating the 2026 awards season, will be held on Sunday, January 4. Chelsea Handler will return as the host for the event, which will take place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The show, spanning three hours, will be broadcast live on E! and the USA Network starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Top Contenders for the Critics Choice Awards

Leading the pack in this year’s Critics Choice nominations is Sinners, a Warner Bros genre thriller by Ryan Coogler featuring Michael B. Jordan. The film has garnered a total of 17 nominations, including categories such as Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Following close behind is Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, also from Warner Bros, with 14 nominations.

Other films contending for Best Picture include: Bugonia (Focus Features), Frankenstein (Netflix), Hamnet (Focus Features), Jay Kelly (Netflix), Marty Supreme (A24), Sentimental Value (Neon), Train Dreams (Netflix), and Wicked: For Good (Universal).

On the television front, Netflix shows lead with Adolescence securing six nominations and Nobody Wants This closely following with five.

This year’s ceremony will also introduce four new award categories: Best Variety Series, Best Stunt Design, Best Casting and Ensemble, and Best Sound. Notably, Best Casting will also be recognized at this year’s Oscars, with Best Stunt Design slated to be included by 2027.

Is the Critics Choice Red Carpet Event Broadcasted?

The LIVE from E!: Critics Choice Awards red carpet event will be aired live starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on both E! and the USA Network. The event will be hosted by Justin Sylvester and Keltie Knight, along with Will Marfuggi and Erin Lim.

Announcing This Year’s Critics Choice Presenters

The presenters for this year include notable figures such as Ali Larter, Alicia Silverstone, Allison Janney, Arden Cho, Ava DuVernay, Bradley Whitford, Billy Bob Thornton, Colman Domingo, Diego Luna, EJAE, Hannah Einbinder, Jeff Goldblum, Jessica Williams, Justin Hartley, Justin Sylvester, Kaley Cuoco, Keltie Knight, Marcello Hernández, Mckenna Grace, Michelle Randolph, Noah Schnapp, Owen Cooper, Quinta Brunson, Regina Hall, Rhea Seehorn, Sebastian Maniscalco, and William H. Macy.

Streaming the Critics Choice Awards Online

The Critics Choice Association has announced that coverage will be available online across several platforms, including Instagram and X @CriticsChoice, on TikTok @OfficialCriticsChoice, and on Facebook at /CriticsChoiceAwards. The hashtag to follow is #CriticsChoiceAwards. Additionally, @enews and @eentertainment will provide live coverage of both the red carpet and the awards ceremony.