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The field of awards shows has seen a significant shift with the Critics Choice Association (CCA) announcing that its 31st annual Critics Choice Awards will take place on January 4, 2026. This announcement arrives shortly after the Golden Globes set its date for January 11, marking a notable change in the awards schedule, as it will be the first time in nine years that the Critics Choice Awards precede the Globes.
This is reminiscent of the 22nd Critics Choice Awards held on December 11, 2016, just weeks before the 74th Golden Globes on January 8, 2017, both of which celebrated the acclaimed film La La Land with a Best Picture accolade.
As the date approaches, the CCA will unveil its television nominations on December 4 and film nominations the following day on December 5. Currently, a host for the ceremony has not been announced; the previous year was led by Chelsea Handler.
The event will return to the E! network for its second year, with a simultaneous live broadcast on the USA Network, starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT. The location for this prestigious event will again be the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.
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“The Critics Choice Association is excited to kick off awards season as the first major televised show of 2026,” stated CCA CEO Joey Berlin. “We are dedicated to ensuring that the Critics Choice Awards remain a must-watch occasion, showcasing unforgettable speeches and pivotal moments that celebrate the best in our industry.”
Earlier this year, the 2025 Critics Choice Awards faced a delay of nearly a month due to the severe wildfires in Los Angeles. Eventually, the ceremony took place on February 7, where the major film awards were distributed: Anora won Best Picture, Jon M. Chu earned Best Director for Wicked, Adrien Brody was named Best Actor for The Brutalist, Demi Moore won Best Actress for The Substance, Kieran Culkin was awarded Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain, and Zoe Saldaña took home Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez. Notably, aside from two exceptions, most of these winners subsequently clinched Oscars, with Sean Baker and Mikey Madison, both from Anora, winning for Director and Actress, respectively.
Source
www.goldderby.com