How to watch 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards live stream online

Started in 1995, the Critics Choice Awards honor the best performances in film and television, as voted on by members of the Critics Choice Association (CCA) – a collective of 500+ film and TV critics and entertainment journalists from the US and Canada.

The 31st Critics’ Choice Awards are set to take place on January 4, 2026, with Chelsea Handler hosting for the fourth consecutive time. Here’s how to watch it online and from anywhere with a VPN.

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The Critics’ Choice Awards, which are taking place before the Golden Globes this year, will be kickstarting the awards season. That also means winners here could enjoy early momentum and shape opinion heading into the Oscars and Emmys, which are the more marquee events. In fact, many CCA winners have gone on to bag major awards, including Oppenheimer (2024), Everything Everywhere All at Once (2023), and Succession (TV).

This year’s ceremony will feature 23 film categories and 21 TV categories, including four new additions: Best Casting and Ensemble, Best Variety Series, Best Sound, and Best Stunt Design.

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners leads with 17 nominations – second only to Barbie in 2023 – including Best Picture, Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan), Best Actress (Miles Caton), Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, and more. Adolescence dominates the TV nominations, with appearances in six categories, including Best Actor (Stephen Graham), Best Supporting Actor (Owen Cooper), and Best Supporting Actress (Erin Doherty).

Read on below and watch the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards ceremony live or on-demand, and no matter where in the world you are.

Peacock. Subscription plans to the NBC streamer start from just $7.99 a month.

Don’t have cable? Don’t worry, you can get E! and the USA Network via one of the best cable alternative providers. Sling TV is our top recommendation, as it’s good value and has 40+ channels to choose from. E! and the USA Network are both available on Sling Blue, which starts at $46/month, but you can currently get $10 off your first month.

Subscribe to a service showing the Critics’ Choice Awards but currently away? You can use a VPN like NordVPN to access your usual services from anywhere – more details below.

a VPN will allow you to stream online, no matter where you are. It’s a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.