The Super Season: A Student’s Guide to the 2026 Awards Chaos
Elfi Eden, BA International Relations and Africa and Black Diaspora
The beginning of 2026 means two things: exam deadlines are out of sight, and the Awards season has begun! The 2023 SAG strikes’ influence is over, meaning the movie pipeline is fully unblocked, which allowed 2025 to be a massive year for cinema, with this awards season as its much-anticipated victory lap.
If you don't know your BAFTAs from your Golden Globes, don't stress - I’m here to break it down and make it easier to follow.
The industry is back in full swing! First up, we had the Golden Globes on January 4th, which kicked off the 2026 awards season. They were hosted by Nikki Glaser, who made history as the first solo female presenter of the Golden Globes. Next on the calendar is the Super Bowl of music: The Grammys, taking place on February 1st, they are closely followed by the BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) on February 22nd. The cool and chaotic SAG Awards, where, unlike other ceremonies, actors vote for fellow actors and no critics or academics are involved, are scheduled on March 1st. This season shuts on March 15th, with the grand finale: the Oscars.
The 2023 union strikes against major TV and film companies were defined by a battle for fair streaming pay and crucial protections against having actors' faces and voices replicated by AI. Campaign blackouts legally banned stars from promoting their work and delayed many productions.
Although the SAG-AFTRA walkouts have passed, union solidarity continues to pulse at the heart of the industry. Moreover, that drought has now burst into a flood: we are looking at an incredibly competitive field where delayed passion projects are finally going head-to-head. The nominations are already breaking records, with ‘One Battle After Another’ securing seven nods, setting a massive stage for the season's other heavyweights, namely the Michael B. Jordan vs. Timothée Chalamet showdown. This is exactly why the SAG Awards (March 1st) are the ones to watch. In 2026, winning an ‘Actor’ statuette hits different; it’s not just a trophy anymore, it’s a symbol of survival, collective effort and peer recognition.
Now, let me introduce this season's clash of titans, the frontrunners. First, we have Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, an undeniable industry favourite. We have the cool, populist vampire thriller, ‘Sinners’, starring Michael B. Jordan and finally, the chaotic A24 darling, ‘Marty Supreme’ starring Timothée Chalamet. Sinners secured a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations, 13 for One Battle After Another, 9 for Marty Supreme and only 8 for Hamnet, which in my opinion deserves the win! This cinematic clash of titans spills directly into the best actor race, with it looking like a heavyweight matchup between Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothee Chalamet for their respective roles. For the best actress Academy Award, keep your eyes on Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, or Emma Stone for her role in Bugonia. And finally, for the supporting categories, we’ve got Teyana Taylor, Benicio Del Toro, Odessa A’zion, Delroy Lindo and Jacob Elordi.
Finally, let’s not let the films hog the spotlight! The Grammys were shaping up to be a battle of the ‘Big 3’: Kendrick Lamar dominating the rap fields, Sabrina Carpenter conquering pop, and the one and only Lady Gaga making a powerful veteran return. Whilst Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar scored some major wins, with Kendrick officially becoming the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history, Sabrina Carpenter didn’t sweep any awards despite six nominations. The most controversial race, however, is Best New Artist, which effectively validates the TikTok-to-Grammy pipeline. British sweetheart Olivia Dean takes over the win over viral stars Addison Rae, Alex Warren and Lola Young. It’s a literal battle of Algorithm vs. Artistry - and with a confirmed medley performance from the nominees, we found out live which style the Academy respects more.
Pick your fighter, grab the chicken wine, and enjoy the show. If anyone asks? Just tell them it’s vital cultural research for your degree.
