The 83rd Golden Globe Awards are set to officially launch the 2026 awards season, bringing glamour, anticipation, and its unique blend of film and television honours. While fans eagerly await to see if their favourite stars will win, a perennial question arises: who actually decides the Golden Globes winners? The answer lies with a specific group of international journalists, and the process is notably different from other major ceremonies like the Oscars.
Who Holds the Voting Power at the Golden Globes?
The fate of nominees rests in the hands of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), an organisation comprising international entertainment journalists based in the United States. In a significant reform-driven expansion, the voting membership has now grown to approximately 300 members. This change aims to foster greater diversity, transparency, and global perspective within the voting body.
These voters represent media outlets from numerous countries around the world, ensuring that the awards reflect a broader international viewpoint on Hollywood's cinematic and television output, rather than a purely domestic one.
The Golden Globes Voting Process: From Nominations to Winners
The path to winning a Golden Globe is a two-stage democratic process decided by a simple majority. It begins with the nomination phase, where all HFPA members submit their ballots to select the contenders in each category. Once the final list of nominees is announced, the second and decisive round of final voting takes place.
Unlike some other awards that use complex ranked-choice systems, the Golden Globes winner is simply the nominee who receives the highest number of votes in the final ballot. There are no weightages or preferential counts involved.
To ensure voters can make informed decisions, studios and networks actively campaign by providing official screeners, organising exclusive screenings, and hosting Q&A sessions with the cast, directors, and creators of eligible films and shows.
What's on the Ballot? Films, TV, and Star-Studded Nominees
A key feature that sets the Golden Globes apart is its simultaneous recognition of both cinema and television. Voters consider feature films released in the calendar year and television series that aired within the eligibility window. Categories also honour individual achievements in acting, directing, writing, and creation.
This year's nominations have set the stage for a highly competitive night, with big names like Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Emma Stone in the running. The ceremony will be held at its traditional venue, the Beverly Hilton, on January 12, 2026.
Host, Presenters, and How India Can Watch
Steering the evening's proceedings will be comedian and actor Nikki Glaser, who makes history by returning as host for a second consecutive year. She previously broke ground as the first woman to host the Golden Globes solo.
While there was online speculation about her role, global star Priyanka Chopra Jonas will not be hosting but will grace the stage as a presenter. She joins an impressive line-up of Hollywood A-listers confirmed to present awards, including George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Kevin Hart, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah, Snoop Dogg, and Amanda Seyfried.
For audiences in India, the ceremony will be broadcast live. Viewers can tune in to Lionsgate Play from 6:30 AM IST on Monday, January 12, to catch all the red-carpet glamour and award announcements as they happen. With a new category, high-profile contenders, and a packed roster of presenters, the 83rd Golden Globes promise to be a must-watch event for awards season followers across the country.
