The 2026 Golden Globe Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles was a night of historic firsts, stunning upsets, and glamorous encounters, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive Oscars race.
A Star Is Born: Teenager Makes Golden Globes History
The evening's most remarkable story belonged to 16-year-old Owen Cooper from Warrington. The actor, who is still studying for his GCSEs, made history by becoming the youngest ever winner of a Golden Globe. He secured the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a TV Series, Limited Series, or TV Movie for his standout role in the Netflix hit Adolescence.
Far from being overwhelmed, Cooper appeared completely at ease amongst Hollywood's elite. He was photographed rubbing shoulders with legends George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio during the celebrations. His series, Adolescence, enjoyed a dominant night in the television categories, also winning Best Limited TV Series and awards for co-stars Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty.
Oscars Race Upended as Chalamet Surges Ahead
In a significant shift for the ongoing awards season, Timothée Chalamet has dramatically overtaken Leonardo DiCaprio as the betting favourite to win the Best Actor Oscar. This follows Chalamet's victory at the Golden Globes for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his role in Marty Supreme.
Before the Globes, the 51-year-old DiCaprio, nominated for One Battle After Another, was the odds-on favourite. However, prediction markets like Kalshi now heavily favour the 30-year-old Chalamet to take the top acting prize at the Academy Awards in March. Chalamet's acceptance speech was notably brief, offering a muted acknowledgement to girlfriend Kylie Jenner compared to his declaration at the Critics Choice Awards the previous week.
Anderson's Film Triumphs as Hamnet Emerges as Oscar Threat
Despite DiCaprio's personal setback, his film One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, was the night's biggest cinematic winner. It claimed four awards, including the coveted Best Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Director, Best Screenplay for Anderson, and a surprise Best Supporting Actress win for Teyana Taylor.
However, the film to beat at the upcoming Oscars may be Hamnet. Directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, it won the top prize of Best Picture – Drama. Buckley also triumphed in the Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama category. This sets the stage for a formidable showdown between the comedic and dramatic frontrunners in the race for Hollywood's ultimate honour.
Other key winners on the night included:
- Best TV Series – Drama: The Pitt
- Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy: The Studio
- Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy: Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
- Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama: Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent
The 2026 Golden Globes have successfully reshuffled the awards season deck, crowning a new teenage star, establishing a fresh Oscar favourite, and identifying two powerful contenders for Best Picture. All eyes now turn to the Academy Awards in March to see how this new landscape will finally settle.
