Hollywood’s award season officially kicked into high gear this week as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association dropped the full list of nominees for the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, and — honestly — it’s one of the most eclectic lineups the ceremony has seen in years. From heavyweight dramas to bright, quirky comedies, and even a brand-new podcast category, this year’s slate feels bigger, broader, and way more reflective of the shifting entertainment landscape.
Film: Big Battles in Both Drama and Comedy
The drama race is stacked, with titles like Frankenstein, Hamnet, and Sinners squaring off against festival darlings such as Sentimental Value and The Secret Agent. It’s a category that doesn’t really have a clear frontrunner, which honestly makes it a lot more fun — audiences and critics are divided, and that unpredictability is rare these days.
Over in the musical/comedy lane, the Globes leaned into a more playful mix. Films such as Bugonia, Blue Moon, Marty Supreme, and One Battle After Another are all in the running, giving the category a surprisingly vibrant energy this year.
Animation fans also have plenty to celebrate: Zootopia 2, Elio, KPop Demon Hunters, and the visually ambitious Arco all landed nominations.
International Films Make a Strong Showing
The non-English language category is unusually competitive this year. Titles like It Was Just an Accident (France), No Other Choice (South Korea), and Tunisia’s powerful entry The Voice of Hind Rajab are generating serious awards buzz — and for good reason. It’s one of those lineups where any film could genuinely win.
Actors and Directors: A Wide Open Field
Acting categories feel just as unpredictable.
Jessie Buckley, Jennifer Lawrence and Renate Reinsve lead the dramatic actress slate, each backed by strong critical acclaim. On the men’s side, performances by Oscar Isaac, Michael B. Jordan and Joel Edgerton dominate the conversation.
Comedy and musical nominees include familiar favorites like Emma Stone, Cynthia Erivo, and Leonardo DiCaprio — the kind of names you expect to see, but paired with newcomers who are shaking things up.
Directors and screenwriters also benefited from the year’s unconventional film lineup, with NEON, Netflix, Focus Features, Disney, and A24 all scoring multiple nods.
Television: ‘The White Lotus’ Leads, But It’s a Crowded Field
Over on the TV side, The White Lotus continues its awards-season dominance with a category-leading set of nominations. Limited-series contenders such as Adolescence round out a strong television slate that includes dramas, comedies, anthology series, and a few dark-horse titles likely to surprise casual viewers.
A First for the Globes: The Podcast Category
For the first time ever, the Golden Globes are formally recognizing podcasts — a move that feels overdue given how massive the medium has become. Shows like SmartLess, Armchair Expert, and Call Her Daddy are battling it out for the inaugural trophy. Expect plenty of debate, because this category is new territory for everyone.
The Ceremony
Hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, the 2026 Golden Globes will take place on January 11, 2026 — and with so many unpredictable categories, this year’s ceremony might actually be… well, exciting.
