Award season is right around the corner—and wE! are so ready to celebrate.
E! and USA Network are kicking off 2026 in style with the Critics Choice Awards 2026 ceremony on Jan. 4.
And with the annual telecast just a month away, pop culture fans won't have to wait much longer to find out the star-studded list of nominees.
That's because this year's Critics Choice nominations livestream is airing today, Dec. 5, at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT exclusively on both E! and USA's channels, as well as on CriticsChoice.com, E! Online and E!’s and USA’s YouTube and X channels.
Hosted by E! News' Keltie Knight and The Rundown's Erin Lim Rhodes, the announcement will reveal which actors, popular TV series and hit films are up for top honors at the 2026 CCAs.
TV categories featured in the livestream will include Best Drama Series, Best Actor in a Drama Series, Best Actress in a Drama Series, Best Comedy Series, Best Actor in a Comedy Series and Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Meanwhile, film categories like Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Picture and Best Animated Feature will also be revealed.
While the winners are still weeks away from being announced, it's no secret that comedy icon Chelsea Handler is returning to host the event for her fourth consecutive year. And the Chelsea Lately alum is beyond excited to emcee Hollywood's very first award show of 2026.
"Kicking off the year with the Critics Choice Awards feels right," Handler shared last month. "Nothing says ‘new beginnings’ like a room full of critics ready to tell you how you did last year."
Airing live from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif., the show will debut four new categories that have been added to this year’s show: Best Variety Series, Best Stunt Design, Best Casting/Ensemble and Best Sound.
On the red carpet, E!'s Critics Choice CreatorCam will give viewers exclusive access to celebrity attendees on the E! News and CCAs Instagram and TikTok accounts. During the show, the Real Time Recap—an innovative live format that will activate on the E! Entertainment Instagram during CCAs commercial breaks—is delivering instant, unfiltered reactions and hot takes on pop culture’s biggest moments as they unfold.
But the fun doesn't stop there. After the ceremony, RE!CAP—your go-to post-award show hangout—features a panel of sharp, comedic pop culture insiders breaking down the most OMG moments from the telecast airing directly after the CCA’s on the E! channel and E! Online.
Don't miss the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards: Nominations Announcement today, Dec. 5, at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.
To find out who wins, tune in to the Critics Choice Awards 2026 broadcasting live on E! and USA on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
In the meantime, keep reading to look back at the best Critics Choice Awards fashion moments of all time.
(E! and USA are both part of the NBCUniversal family)
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.
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.
Jennifer Garner
Jennifer kept it simple and stunning in a minimalist blue gown and tousled up-do at the 2007 event.
Jennifer Hudson
Also at the 2007 event, the Oscar winner dazzled in a gold gown and bedazzled clutch.
Katie Holmes
The Dawson’s Creek alum wore a toga-inspired one-shoulder dress at the 2008 awards ceremony.
Amanda Bynes
This look was an Easy A. Indeed, the Nickelodeon alum wore a pink bandage mini dress to the 2009 Critics Choice Awards.
Angelina Jolie
The Maria actress kept it simple in a drapey one-shoulder gown and white clutch at the 2009 ceremony.
Katy Perry
The "Dark Horse" singer was light and bright in a sultry blue gown and furry shawl around her shoulders in 2009.
Kristen Bell
To the 2010 ceremony, the Nobody Wants This actress wore a black mini dress with matching heels.
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.
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.
Sofia Vergara
The Modern Family alum worked the red carpet in a gunmetal midi-dress at the 2011 ceremony.
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.
Viola Davis
The Woman King actress was fierce as ever in a bright red gown on the 2012 awards red carpet.
Emmy Rossum
The Shameless alum showed up to the 2012 ceremony ready to wow in a bronze one-shoulder gown.
Anne Hathaway
The Idea of You actress was a breath of fresh air in a patterned spaghetti-strap dress at the 2013 ceremony.
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.
Mandy Moore
The This is Us actress arrived at the 2016 event in a navy gown to match the blue carpet.
Emma Roberts
The American Horror Story actress looked sleek in a strapless white gown at the 2018 awards ceremony.
Lady Gaga
Mother Monster wore a classic strapless gown that featured a drapey train at the 2019 awards ceremony.
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.
Sterling K. Brown
The This is Us actor looked dapper as ever in a burgundy suit and sunglasses at the 2020 event.
Zendaya
The Challengers star served in a two-piece ensemble that featured a sculptural bust element and flowing skirt in 2020.
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.
Kristen Stewart
The Spencer actress looked as sparkly as a vampire in the sunlight in a sultry, bedazzled gown at the 2022 ceremony.
Henry Golding
At the 2023 Critics Choice Awards, the Crazy Rich Asians actor wowed in a deep turquoise velvet suit.
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.
Daisy Edgar Jones
The Twisters actress wore an asymmetrical sparkling gown to the 2023 Critics Choice Awards.
Andrew Garfield
Coming through with a timeless look, the We Live in Time actor wore a tan monochromatic ensemble in 2023.
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.