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Critics’ Choice Awards 2026: Black Talent and Early Frontrunners Shine

  • Writer: Siona Sakah
    Siona Sakah
  • Dec 31, 2025
  • 1 min read
'One Battle After Another,' 'Sinners' and 'Adolescence'Warner Bros./Netflix
'One Battle After Another,' 'Sinners' and 'Adolescence'Warner Bros./Netflix

The 31st Critics’ Choice Awards are almost here, and the buzz is real. Set for early January, the ceremony will celebrate the best in film and television from 2025, with critics weighing in on standout performances, direction, and storytelling.


This year, films like Sinners and One Battle After Another are leading the nominations, but attention is also on the performers who are shaping awards season discussions. Michael B. Jordan, Danielle Deadwyler, and Aunjanue Ellis are among the Black actors who critics and fans alike expect to make an impact on the evening.


From "Frankenstein" to "Hamnet," here are the big contenders for the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. Credit: Composite: Mashable / Images: Netflix / Warner Bros. Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures / A24 / Focus Features
From "Frankenstein" to "Hamnet," here are the big contenders for the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. Credit: Composite: Mashable / Images: Netflix / Warner Bros. Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures / A24 / Focus Features

The Critics’ Choice Awards have long been a bellwether for the season. Past winners and nominees often carry momentum into the Golden Globes and Oscars, making this ceremony a key early indicator of industry support and critical acclaim.


Beyond the nominations, the event also highlights diversity and representation in film. With more Black-led films and performances gaining recognition than ever before, the 2026 ceremony signals a shift toward a more inclusive and culturally rich awards season.



Fans and industry watchers will be keeping a close eye on the red carpet, where rising stars and established talent will come together for one of the first major celebrations of the year. As the Critics’ Choice Awards approach, it’s clear that 2026 could be a year where Black talent takes center stage, both on screen and in the awards conversation.

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