Critics Choice Awards 2026 TV Nominations: 'Adolescence' Takes the Lead (Complete List)

The nominees for the 2026 Critics Choice Awards have been revealed on December 5, introducing four new categories: Best Variety Series, Best Stunt Design, Best Casting/Ensemble, and Best Sound. Hosted by Chelsea Handler, the awards honor excellence in both television and film. Here, we focus on the television nominations, covering both network and streaming programs.

Adolescence leads with six nominations, followed closely by Nobody Wants This with five. Several shows, including The Pitt, Hacks, and The Diplomat, received four nods each.

The awards ceremony will take place at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and will be broadcast on January 4 from 7 to 10 PM EST on USA Network and E!.

Best Drama Series

• Alien: Earth (FX)
• Andor (Disney+)
• The Diplomat (Netflix)
• Paradise (Hulu)
• The Pitt (HBO Max)
• Pluribus (Apple TV)
• Severance (Apple TV)
• Task (HBO Max)

Best Actor in a Drama Series

• Sterling K. Brown Paradise
• Diego Luna Andor
• Mark Ruffalo Task
• Adam Scott Severance
• Billy Bob Thornton Landman (Paramount+)
• Noah Wyle The Pitt

Best Actress in a Drama Series

• Kathy Bates Matlock (CBS)
• Carrie Coon The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
• Britt Lower Severance
• Bella Ramsey The Last of Us (HBO Max)
• Keri Russell The Diplomat
• Rhea Seehorn Pluribus

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Patrick Ball The Pitt
• Billy Crudup The Morning Show (Apple TV)
• Ato Essandoh The Diplomat
• Wood Harris Forever (Netflix)
• Tom Pelphrey Task
• Tramell Tillman Severance

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Nicole Beharie The Morning Show
• Dene Benton The Gilded Age
• Allison Janney The Diplomat
• Katherine LaNasa The Pitt
• Greta Lee The Morning Show
• Skye P. Marshall Matlock

Best Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary (ABC)
• Elsbeth (CBS)
• Ghosts (CBS)
• Hacks (HBO Max)
• Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
• Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
• The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
• The Studio (Apple TV)

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

• Adam Brody Nobody Wants This
• Ted Danson A Man on the Inside (Netflix)
• David Alan Grier St. Denis Medical (NBC)
• Danny McBride The Righteous Gemstones
• Seth Rogen The Studio
• Alexander Skarsgrd Murderbot (Apple TV)

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

• Kristen Bell Nobody Wants This
• Natasha Lyonne Poker Face (Peacock)
• Rose McIver Ghosts
• Edi Patterson The Righteous Gemstones
• Carrie Preston Elsbeth
• Jean Smart Hacks

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Ike Barinholtz The Studio
• Paul W. Downs Hacks
• Asher Grodman Ghosts
• Oscar Nuez The Paper (Peacock)
• Chris Perfetti Abbott Elementary
• Timothy Simons Nobody Wants This

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Danielle Brooks Peacemaker
• Hannah Einbinder Hacks
• Janelle James Abbott Elementary
• Justine Lupe Nobody Wants This
• Ego Nwodim Saturday Night Live (NBC)
• Rebecca Wisocky Ghosts

Best Limited Series

• Adolescence
• All Her Fault (Peacock)
• Chief of War (Apple TV)
• Death by Lightning (Netflix)
• Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
• Dope Thief (Apple TV)
• Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
• The Girlfriend (Prime Video)

Best Movie Made for Television

• Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
• Deep Cover (Prime Video)
• The Gorge (Apple TV)
• Mountainhead (HBO Max)
• Nonnas (Netflix)
• Summer of 69 (Hulu)

Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie

• Michael Chernus Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
• Stephen Graham Adolescence
• Brian Tyree Henry Dope Thief
• Charlie Hunnam Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)
• Matthew Rhys The Beast in Me (Netflix)
• Michael Shannon Death by Lightning

Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

• Jessica Biel The Better Sister (Prime Video)
• Meghann Fahy Sirens (Netflix)
• Sarah Snook All Her Fault (Peacock)
• Michelle Williams Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
• Robin Wright The Girlfriend
• Rene Zellweger Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie

• Owen Cooper Adolescence
• Wagner Moura Dope Thief
• Nick Offerman Death by Lightning
• Michael Pea All Her Fault
• Ashley Walters Adolescence
• Ramy Youssef Mountainhead (HBO Max)

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie

• Erin Doherty Adolescence
• Betty Gilpin Death by Lightning
• Marin Ireland Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
• Sophia Lillis All Her Fault
• Julianne Moore Sirens
• Christine Tremarco Adolescence

Best Foreign Language Series

• Acapulco (Apple TV)
• Last Samurai Standing (Netflix)
• Mussolini: Son of the Century (MUBI)
• Red Alert (Paramount+)
• Squid Game (Netflix)
• When No One Sees Us (HBO Max)

Best Animated Series

• Bobs Burgers (Fox)
• Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
• Long Story Short (Netflix)
• Marvel Zombies (Disney+)
• South Park (Comedy Central)
• Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+)

Best Talk Show

• The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
• Hot Ones (YouTube)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
• Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo)

Best Variety Series

• Conan OBrien Must Go (HBO Max)
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max)
• Saturday Night Live

Best Comedy Special

• Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life (HBO Max)
• Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian (HBO Max)
• Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things (Netflix)
• Marc Maron: Panicked (HBO Max)
• Sarah Silverman: PostMortem (Netflix)
• SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)

Author: Ava Mitchell