How to Watch Critics Choice Awards 2026 and Live From E! Red Carpet

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Critics Choice Awards 2026 Nominations: ‘Sinners’ & ‘One Battle After Another’ Lead the Pack

Polish off those trophies: It's time for Critics Choice Awards 2026.

With days to go until the Jan. 4 ceremony—hosted by Chelsea Handler at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica Calif.—airs on E! and USA Network, celeb attendees are preparing to hit the red carpet.

This year, Ryan Coogler's film Sinners—starring Michael B. Jordanleads the list with 17 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku) and Best Young Actor/Actress (Miles Caton).

Following closely behind is Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another with 14 nods. In fact, the movie will face off against Sinners in multiple categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Best Supporting Actress (Teyana Taylor).

Both films are also up for awards in Best Casting and Ensemble, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Stunt Design, Best Score and Best Sound.

Meanwhile, Netflix's Adolescence leads the TV categories with six nominations.

For all the details on the Critics Choice Awards and how to watch Live From E!'s exclusive red carpet interviews, keep reading.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association

When are the Critics Choice Awards 2026?

The 31st annual Critics Choice Awards are taking place on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.

How can I watch the Critics Choice Awards 2026?

The Critics Choice Awards will air live on E! and USA networks. You can also watch live on USANetwork.com as well as the apps for USA, E!, SYFY, and Oxygen. The show will be available next day on Peacock.

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What time are the Critics Choice Awards 2026?

The Critics Choice Awards will air live on both coasts from 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT to 10 p.m. ET/7 pm. PT on Jan. 4.

Who is hosting the Critics Choice Awards 2026?

Chelsea Handler is hosting the Critics Choice Awards 2026.

Who is nominated at the Critics Choice Awards 2026?

Leading the list of Critics Choice Awards 2026 film nominations are Ryan Coogler's Sinners—starring Michael B. Jordan—with 17 nominations and Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another—starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor—with 14 nods.

On the TV side, Netflix's Adolescence received the most nominations—six total—including one for Best Limited Series. See the complete list of Critics Choice Awards 2026 nominations here.

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When does E!'s Critics Choice Awards 2026 red carpet begin?

Leading into the show, the LIVE from E!: Critics Choice Awards red carpet special—hosted by Justin Sylvester and Keltie Knight along with Will Marfuggi and Erin Lim Rhodes—will air live from 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT to 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT across E! and USA Network. You can also watch live on USANetwork.com and USA, E!, SYFY, and Oxygen apps plus Peacock.

Erin will host E!'s CreatorCam from 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 PT to 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, giving viewers unfiltered, behind-the-scenes access to the red carpet. Coverage will be streamed on E! News' Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts accounts, E! Entertainment's YouTube Shorts, as well as USA Networks Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts. 

You can check out CreatorCam footage on the @critcschoice Instagram, YT Shorts and @officialcriticschoice TikTok page.

Viewers can also tune in for a live, behind-the-scenes look at all the Glambot action on E! Entertainment's Instagram.

Throughout Live From E! fans can catch exclusive moments featuring Erin with sponsor Avocados from Mexico as well as Keltie and celebrity stylist Tara Swennen with sponsor Marshalls. Plus, Marshalls will keep the celebration going with a RE!CAP segment on red-carpet inspired fashion.

When is E!'s post-Critics Choice Awards coverage airing?

E!'s Live RE!CAP: Critics Choice with Will Marfuggi, Robyn Delmonte and Monét X Change will air after the award show from 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT to 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT on the E! network and eonline.com, as well as E! News' YouTube, X and LinkedIn accounts, E! Entertainment's Facebook, X and YouTube pages and the USA network's X and YouTube accounts.

While we count down the hours until the Jan. 4 ceremony, take a look at the best dressed Critics Choice Awards looks ever.

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Rebecca Romjin

Wearing a black gown with ruffled details on the spaghetti straps and neckline, the X-Men actress looked effortlessly chic at the 2006 ceremony.

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Jessica Biel

She had fans in seventh heaven with her 2007 Critics Choice Awards look, which paired a pale yellow midi dress with the most daring accessory of the times: tan lines.

Chris Polk/FilmMagic

Jennifer Garner 

Jennifer kept it simple and stunning in a minimalist blue gown and tousled up-do at the 2007 event.

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Jennifer Hudson

Also at the 2007 event, the Oscar winner dazzled in a gold gown and bedazzled clutch.

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Katie Holmes

The Dawson’s Creek alum wore a toga-inspired one-shoulder dress at the 2008 awards ceremony.

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Amanda Bynes

This look was an Easy A. Indeed, the Nickelodeon alum wore a pink bandage mini dress to the 2009 Critics Choice Awards.

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Angelina Jolie

The Maria actress kept it simple in a drapey one-shoulder gown and white clutch at the 2009 ceremony.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for VH1

Katy Perry

The "Dark Horse" singer was light and bright in a sultry blue gown and furry shawl around her shoulders in 2009.

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Kristen Bell

To the 2010 ceremony, the Nobody Wants This actress wore a black mini dress with matching heels. 

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Kristin Chenoweth

As if she knew her gorgeous gown would be popular, the Wicked icon showed some skin in a plunging metallic gown at the 2010 awards show.

Jason Merritt/Getty Images for VH1

Diane Kruger

The In the Fade actress wore a drapey white gown with subtle sheer detailing while on the red carpet for the 2010 Critics Choice Awards.

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Sofia Vergara

The Modern Family alum worked the red carpet in a gunmetal midi-dress at the 2011 ceremony. 

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Emma Stone

Fans were green with envy after spotting the La La Land actress in this flowing gown with a belted waist at the 2012 awards ceremony.

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Viola Davis 

The Woman King actress was fierce as ever in a bright red gown on the 2012 awards red carpet.

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Emmy Rossum

The Shameless alum showed up to the 2012 ceremony ready to wow in a bronze one-shoulder gown.

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Anne Hathaway

The Idea of You actress was a breath of fresh air in a patterned spaghetti-strap dress at the 2013 ceremony.

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Lupita Nyong'o

The A Quiet Place: Day One star was a vision in a white cross-neck gown as she held up her Critics Choice Award at the 2014 event.

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Mandy Moore

The This is Us actress arrived at the 2016 event in a navy gown to match the blue carpet.

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Emma Roberts

The American Horror Story actress looked sleek in a strapless white gown at the 2018 awards ceremony.

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Lady Gaga

Mother Monster wore a classic strapless gown that featured a drapey train at the 2019 awards ceremony.

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Chrissy Teigen

The Cravings author dazzled on the 2019 red carpet in a layered white gown that featured a high slit and synched waist detail.

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Champagne Collet

Sterling K. Brown

The This is Us actor looked dapper as ever in a burgundy suit and sunglasses at the 2020 event.

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Zendaya

The Challengers star served in a two-piece ensemble that featured a sculptural bust element and flowing skirt in 2020. 

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Selena Gomez

Something that isn’t rare? Selena bringing it on the red carpet like she did at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards, where she donned a gorgeous red gown that featured a crisscross neckline and cape.

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Kristen Stewart 

The Spencer actress looked as sparkly as a vampire in the sunlight in a sultry, bedazzled gown at the 2022 ceremony.

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Henry Golding

At the 2023 Critics Choice Awards, the Crazy Rich Asians actor wowed in a deep turquoise velvet suit.

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Anya Taylor-Joy

This look is sheer perfection. The Furiosa actress wowed in a see-through nude gown featuring an A-line skirt in 2023.

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Kahala Brands

Daisy Edgar Jones

The Twisters actress wore an asymmetrical sparkling gown to the 2023 Critics Choice Awards.

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Andrew Garfield

Coming through with a timeless look, the We Live in Time actor wore a tan monochromatic ensemble in 2023. 

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Sheryl Lee Ralph

The Abbott Elementary actress arrived at the 2023 awards ready to teach a lesson in fashion in her metallic one-sleeve gown.

Watch the Critics Choice Awards 2026 live Sunday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m. on E! and USA Network.

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