Golden Globes 2026: All the Viral Moments Creating a Stir

The 2026 Golden Globes, held on January 11 at the Beverly Hilton ballroom, kicked off the awards season in grand style. From the very first moments, social media erupted with excitement over the ceremony, showcasing exactly why the Golden Globes remain one of the most talked-about events of awards season.

The 2026 Golden Globes delivered a mix of laughter, tears, and applause. From host Nikki Glaser’s playful jabs at A-list stars to Timothée Chalamet showing affection for his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, Teyana Taylor’s powerful acceptance speech, and Wanda Sykes playfully taking a dig at Ricky Gervais, here are some of the night’s most unforgettable moments.

Nikki Glaser opened the night with a fierce monologue, with Leonardo DiCaprio as her first target.

“What a career you’ve had,” Glaser began. “Countless iconic performances, you’ve worked with every great director, you’ve won three Golden Globes and an Oscar.”

Then came the line that brought the room to a standstill:
“And the most impressive thing is that you were able to accomplish all of that before your girlfriend turned 30.”

Gasps and laughter filled the room, and even DiCaprio chuckled, as Glaser quickly backtracked.
“Leo, I’m sorry. That joke is cheap,” she said, before immediately adding, “I tried not to, but we don’t know anything else about you, man. There’s nothing else. Open up!”

Teyana Taylor’s Emotional Victory

Teyana Taylor, a first-time Golden Globe winner, took home the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role as Perfidia Beverly Hills in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another.

Shocked by her win, she immediately jumped from her seat and delivered a teary, heartfelt speech. She celebrated her gown featuring a “party in the back,” and dedicated her award to “my Brown sisters and little Brown girls watching tonight.” She continued:
“Our softness is not a liability, our depth is not too much, our light does not need permission to shine, we belong in every room we walk into, our voices matter, and our dreams deserve space.”

Podcasting Category — Is This a Spoof?

Before Snoop Dogg handed out a Golden Globe to a podcaster, Nikki Glaser opened the category with a parody of Nicole Kidman’s AMC commercial, quipping, “Discourse feels good in a place like this.”

Amy Poehler took home the category’s first-ever trophy for her podcast Good Hang and made headlines with her acceptance speech, which has gone viral online.

Magnificent Victory of K-Pop’s Demon Hunters

The K-pop song “Golden” from Netflix’s Demon Hunters won Best Original Song, making history as the first K-pop song to achieve this award. Songwriter and singer EJAE delivered an emotional speech, sharing how repeated rejections motivated her to keep going:
“I worked tirelessly for 10 years to fulfill one dream: to become a K-pop idol. And I was rejected. Now I’m here as a singer and a songwriter.”

Melissa McCarthy and Kathryn Hahn Present a Male Acting Award

Melissa McCarthy and Kathryn Hahn highlighted male representation in film while presenting a male acting award, joking about how men have lagged behind women in acting.
“For the first time ever, men will have their acting awarded as well,” Hahn said. McCarthy added, “It’s about time,” celebrating that men finally have a “seat at the table.”

Connor & Hudson Make Their Globes Debut

Breakout stars Connor Storries and Hudson Williams from the erotic ice hockey drama Heated Rivalry presented the award for Supporting Female Actor in a TV series. Storries appeared nervous, while Williams encouraged him to take a deep breath and imagine everyone in the audience.
“Yeah, I don’t really know if that works, because, you know…” Storries said. “You think everyone in the audience has seen Heated Rivalry?”
The ballroom erupted in cheers, with Williams confirming that yes, their trainers, daughters, and even moms had seen the show.

Nikki’s Tribute to Rob Reiner

Glaser closed out the star-studded 2026 Golden Globes with a subtle tribute to the late filmmaker Rob Reiner. As she said her goodnights, she wore a hat featuring the logo of his directorial debut, This Is Spinal Tap (1984), in which he also starred as filmmaker Marty Di Bergi.

It was the ceremony’s only tribute to Reiner, partly due to the absence of a memorial segment

Read More: 83rd Golden Globe Awards 2026: Full Winners List and Highlights