The 2026 Golden Globes ceremony delivered a night of expected triumphs, sharp surprises, and significant snubs that have reshaped the landscape for the upcoming Oscars. While Timothée Chalamet cemented his frontrunner status, the evening's narrative was dominated by the soaring momentum of one film and the curious cold shoulder given to another.
Chalamet's March to the Podium and Key Victories
Timothée Chalamet continued his awards season sweep, clinching the award for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his role in Marty Supreme. His victory over competitors including Leonardo DiCaprio makes him the seemingly unstoppable favourite for the Academy Award. His speech, which included headline-friendly shoutouts to his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, only added to his momentum.
In the dramatic categories, Jessie Buckley solidified her own Oscar frontrunner position by winning Best Actress for her raw performance in Hamnet. The film itself took home the top prize for Best Motion Picture – Drama, with director Chloé Zhao delivering a powerful acceptance speech that quoted co-star Paul Mescal on vulnerability.
The night's biggest haul, however, went to Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another. The film won the crucial Best Screenplay award and saw Teyana Taylor triumph in the Supporting Actress category, positioning it as the film to beat.
The Notable Snubs and Surprises
The most discussed shock of the night was the performance of Ryan Coogler's critically adored thriller, Sinners. Despite being hailed as a cultural landmark, it won only two Globes: the non-televised Original Score award and the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement prize—a category widely viewed as a consolation award. Coogler's loss in the screenplay race to Anderson was perceived by many as a significant snub.
In a pleasant surprise, 72-year-old Stellan Skarsgård won Best Actor in a Drama for Sentimental Value, edging ahead of a crowded field. His eloquent speech on the primacy of cinema is expected to boost his Oscar campaign. Another unexpected win came for Brazilian actor Wagner Moura (Best Actor in a Drama for The Secret Agent), highlighting the Globes' more international voting body.
Meanwhile, the musical Wicked failed to convert its technical nominations into major wins, with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo both losing out, suggesting its awards season prospects are dimming.
Oscars Implications and Industry Shifts
The results have clear ramifications for the Academy Awards. One Battle After Another now appears almost unstoppable in the Best Picture race, with its key competition seemingly coming only from Hamnet. Anderson's own history of Oscar misses may add a compelling narrative for voters.
The ceremony also suggested a potential shift in genre popularity. A slew of high-profile biopics, including Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen and Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine, were entirely shut out. In contrast, creative literary adaptations like One Battle After Another (based on Thomas Pynchon) and the loosely biographical Marty Supreme claimed the glory, hinting at voter fatigue with traditional awards bait.
While the Globes' recent voter overhaul was credited for a more international and less lobby-driven set of winners, the production itself faced criticism. The lack of film clips for the first hour and some awkward musical cues, such as playing Stevie Wonder's 'Isn't She Lovely' for Jessie Buckley's intense Hamnet win, highlighted room for improvement. Nonetheless, the event has successfully refocused the awards conversation firmly on the films and performances that will define the rest of the season.
