The Golden Globes celebrates film, television, and emerging voices

Avery Quake, Co-Managing Editor, Head of Content • January 12, 2026

The 83rd annual Golden Globes ceremony recognizes actors, directors, and producers in a variety of creative categories.

The Golden Globes returned Sunday, January 11, marking the 83rd annual ceremony celebrating excellence in film and television. The event took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, airing live at 8 p.m. EST on CBS and Paramount+. Beyond honoring the year’s most acclaimed performances, the Golden Globes continue to serve as an influential event, one that inspires aspiring filmmakers and actors watching from afar, according to vogue.com.

Returning as host for the second year, Emmy-nominated stand-up comedian Ms. Nikki Glaser’s sharp humor and commanding stage presence set the tone for the evening. Clips of the opening monologue, acceptance speeches, and red-carpet highlights also aired across the Golden Globes’ social media platforms, extending the event’s reach beyond the ballroom and onto the screens of young creatives worldwide, according to vogue.com.

Ms. Nikki Glaser, stand up comedian, hosts the Golden Globes for the second consecutive year. Avery Quake ’26

This year’s nominations, released December 8, 2025, highlighted both and emerging international voices. Leading the film nominations was Mr. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another with nine nods, followed closely by Mr. Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value with eight, Mr. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners with seven, and Ms. Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet with six. On the television side, The White Lotus led with six nominations, with Adolescence close behind at five, according to vogue.com.

The Golden Globes feature 28 categories, with up to six nominees per category, allowing a broad range of projects and performances. By widening its structure, the films align with the entertainment industry’s move toward more inclusive storytelling, according to vogue.com.

One of the most notable changes this year was the introduction of a new major category: Best Podcast. This marks the first year that Golden Globes recognized podcasts at the award show, signaling the industry’s growing acknowledgment of digital and long-form audio storytelling, according to vanityfair.com. Nominees included Call Her Daddy and The Mel Robbins Podcast, alongside celebrity-driven shows such as SmartLess, hosted by Mr. Jason Bateman, Mr. Sean Hayes, and Mr. Will Arnett. The category has sparked debate, with critics questioning whether celebrity-driven and conversational podcasts should compete for the same recognition as traditionally produced narrative storytelling. However, it also underscores how storytelling continues to evolve beyond film and television, according to vogue.com.

Another defining feature of the 2026 Golden Globes was its increasingly international scope. Roughly half of the Best Drama Film nominees were non-English-language productions, including The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and It Was Just an Accident. Individual acting nominations for international performers such as Mr. Wagner Moura and Mr. Lee Byung-hun further reflected the Globes’ shift toward global representation, according to vanityfair.com.

For Upper School student filmmakers, watching the Golden Globes is about more than predicting winners. This experience offers a glimpse into how stories across languages and cultures encourage films with unconventional themes or international origins. Senior Lily FitzPatrick, creative film student, commented on what it means to watch the Golden Globes as a young female filmmaker.

Mr. Owen Coopers makes history as the youngest male actor to win Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series. Avery Quake ’26

“Watching the Golden Globes as a film student is really interesting because we get to write, direct, and produce our own short films throughout the year,” Lily said. “It’s especially inspiring to see women being recognized for telling bold and original stories. Seeing their work celebrated on such a big scale reminds me that there’s room in the industry for diverse voices and perspectives.”

Awards shows like the Golden Globes also provide visibility to behind-the-scenes roles, from directors and screenwriters to composers and producers. Viewers highly anticipated major categories such as Best Director, Best Original Song, and more. As the night unfolded, celebrity presents announced major awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Motion picture – Comedy or Musical. Mr. Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director for a motion picture for his work in One Battle After Another. Ms. Amy Poehler took home the Golden Globe in the new category for her podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler. Another popular category, Best Actress in a Comedy, awarded Ms. Jean Smart for her work in Hacks. Mr. Owen Cooper made history as the youngest Golden Globe winner for Best Supporting Actor in a TV series for his part in Netflix’s crime drama, Adolescence. Mr. Cooper described what it meant for him to win a Golden Globe, especially as a young actor, according to people.com.

“Wow, standing here with a Golden Globe, it does not feel real whatsoever,” Mr. Cooper said, according to people.com. “What an incredible journey me and my family have been put through. We are forever grateful for what these people have done for me and my family. What started off as, what I thought [was], ‘I might be okay, I might be awful. I never know.’ So I took a risk, and I went to drama classes.”

Featured Image by Avery Quake ’26

About the Contributor

Avery Quake, Co-Managing Editor, Head of Content

Avery is thrilled to return to the King Street Chronicle as co-managing editor and head of content in her last year at Sacred Heart Greenwich. She is very excited to implement the journalistic skills she has gained the last two years, and is eager to pass on that knowledge to the new staff writers. Outside of the newsroom, Avery leads the yearbook, is co-head of the Neighbor to Neighbor club, and also is on the sailing team.