The 2026 Golden Globes ceremony, held on the 12th of January, delivered a night of sharp comedy and unexpected moments, with host Nikki Glaser leading the charge. The event featured everything from Fran Drescher's signature vocal interruption to George Clooney being playfully upstaged, and Glaser herself turning her comedic fire on the Hollywood A-listers she's befriended since last hosting.
Glaser's Opening Monologue Hits the Mark
Host Nikki Glaser set the tone immediately with a biting opening monologue that left few unscathed. She targeted Leonardo DiCaprio for his dating history, quipping that his most impressive achievement was winning three Golden Globes and an Oscar before any of his girlfriends turned 30. She then turned to George Clooney with a faux-concerned query about his watery Nespresso, asking the star to troubleshoot her pod machine live on stage.
The jokes continued to flow as Glaser roasted the duo of Kevin Hart and The Rock, calling them the Steve Martin and Martin Short for people under a certain IQ. She also highlighted Timothée Chalamet's rigorous preparation for a ping pong film, noting he was the first actor to ever "put on muscle" for such a role, gaining a whopping 60 ounces.
Presenters and Winners Steal the Show
The night's surprises weren't confined to the host. When Rose Byrne won Best Female Actor for a Motion Picture, she offered a uniquely Australian-friendly excuse for her husband Bobby Cannavale's absence. Byrne revealed he was at a reptile expo in New Jersey to procure a bearded dragon for the family.
Presenters got in on the act too. Sean Hayes and Will Arnett teased Jason Bateman about his show Ozark, with Hayes claiming it ran "three seasons too long." Meanwhile, Don Cheadle reminded the audience of George Clooney's long career, pointing out that Timothée Chalamet was just three years old the last time Clooney won a Globe.
Seth Rogen, after winning Best Male Actor in a Television Musical/Comedy, gloated to legends Steve Martin and Martin Short in the crowd, joking he never actually thought he'd beat them. In a more revealing moment, Judd Apatow recalled that a young Nikki Glaser used to babysit for him, but was fired after he watched her stand-up routine about "smoking reefer and having weird sex."
Unscripted Moments and Musical Interludes
The ceremony wasn't without its chaotic charm. Fran Drescher famously interrupted a musical number by Glaser, shouting from the audience that her singing voice was "so annoying." Glaser shot back that the comment meant a lot coming from Drescher. Additionally, stars from Heated Rivalry, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, made their Globes debut by joking about picturing the audience naked to calm their nerves, a bit that fell flat when Storrie noted everyone had already seen them in the nude on screen.
The 2026 Golden Globes proved to be a night where the humour was as celebrated as the honorees, with Nikki Glaser successfully navigating the line between insider ribbing and outright roast, ensuring the event was memorable for its laughs as much as its awards.
