The Golden Globes Night That Turned Into the Internet’s Group Chat

Award shows are supposed to be polished. Predictable. Carefully rehearsed down to the lighting cues and walk-on music. But every once in a while, something cracks through the surface. A laugh that lands too honestly. A speech that hits a nerve. A joke that makes the room inhale all at once.

The 2026 Golden Globes felt like one of those nights.

Not because everything went smoothly, but because it did not. Because the broadcast kept reminding viewers that behind the couture and trophies are people with nerves, inside jokes, political opinions, and very human reactions to pressure. It was the kind of ceremony that did not just hand out awards but produced moments that instantly escaped the ballroom and took on a life of their own online.

Within minutes, clips were circulating. Quotes were being screenshot. Group chats lit up. Some moments sparked joy. Others sparked debates. A few did both at once.

This was not a night defined by a single headline or scandal. It was defined by accumulation. Small, sharp, emotional beats that added up to a ceremony people kept talking about long after the last trophy was handed out.

Here are the moments that turned the 2026 Golden Globes into an internet-wide conversation.

The 83rd Annual Golden Globes aired Sunday night, and for a few hours, Hollywood did what it does best. It celebrated itself loudly, emotionally, and just messy enough to keep everyone watching.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominated the evening, winning best comedy or musical film alongside best director and screenplay. Teyana Taylor’s supporting actress win for the same film added one of the night’s most talked-about moments, both in the room and online.

Drama categories brought their own weight. Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet took home best motion picture drama, while Jessie Buckley was awarded best actress in a motion picture drama for her performance. Over on the television side, Adolescence became a breakout favorite, collecting four wins and turning 16-year-old Owen Cooper into one of the youngest Golden Globe winners in history.

Elsewhere, Timothée Chalamet secured best actor in a musical or comedy for Marty Supreme, and Wagner Moura won best actor in a drama for The Secret Agent. By the end of the night, the awards felt almost secondary to the conversations they sparked.

Nikki Glaser roasts CBS, DOJ and Leonardo DiCaprio in opening monologue

Opening monologues often walk a careful line, but Nikki Glaser stepped right over it and kept going. Her set made it clear that this was not going to be a polite start to the night.

“So let’s get down to business, shall we? We’ll start the bidding for Warner Bros. at 5 dollars. Do I hear 5 dollars?” she said, taking aim at the Netflix Warner Bros deal that had dominated recent headlines.

As the laughter settled, Glaser shifted the room’s energy by pointing out that many of the A-listers in attendance also appeared on “a list that has been heavily redacted,” referencing the Epstein files and drawing audible gasps. She closed the segment by handing out mock Golden Globes in the editing category, using the moment to fire off jokes at CBS and the Justice Department, and setting the tone for a night that was anything but cautious.

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Glaser kept the punches coming, handing out some of the night’s sharpest one-liners under the guise of fake awards.

“And the Golden Globe for best editing goes to … the Justice Department. Yes, congratulations. And the award for most editing goes to CBS News — yes. CBS News: America’s newest place to see BS News. We needed another,” she said, earning a mix of laughter and stunned silence in the room.

She then pivoted to one of Hollywood’s most reliable punchlines, Leonardo DiCaprio’s dating history. “Leonardo DiCaprio is here for ‘one man bun after another’ ... what a career you’ve had, countless iconic performances, you’ve worked with every great director, you’ve won three Golden Globes, an Oscar and the most impressive thing is you were able to accomplish all of that before your girlfriend turned 30,” Glaser quipped, as the camera cut to DiCaprio smiling and looking down.

Before moving on, Glaser also tipped her hat to the show everyone seemed to be talking about. “I hope that the success of Heated Rivalry is proof that American audiences are ready for more shows about hockey,” she said, drawing laughs from stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie seated in the audience.

Teyana Taylor's emotional acceptance speech

Teyana Taylor’s win quickly became one of the night’s emotional anchors. Taking home her first Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for One Battle After Another, she approached the stage visibly overwhelmed, admitting she had not even prepared remarks.

“Oh my God, I almost didn’t even write a speech because I didn’t think I’d win,” she said through tears. She went on to thank her loved ones, calling them her foundation. “To my tribe—oh my God—my grounding force, my joy, my daily reminder that love is an action, not just a word. And everything I do is rooted in that truth.”As the room listened quietly, Taylor ended her speech with words that immediately resonated far beyond the ceremony. “Last and most importantly, to my brown sisters and little brown girls watching tonight, 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.”Within minutes, social media lit up in response. “This makes me so happy,” actor and singer Halle Bailey wrote. Kid Cudi celebrated with, “Lets go sis!!! LETS F***IN GOOOOOO!!!” followed by fire emojis. Another viewer summed up the moment many felt while watching. “Teyana Taylor just gave the best speech of the entire award season at the Golden Globes.”Reddit

Stellan Skarsgård advocates for movie theatres in acceptance speech

Stellan Skarsgård’s acceptance speech struck a quieter, more reflective note. After winning the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Film Role for Sentimental Value, he admitted the moment caught him off guard.

“I of course was not prepared for this, because I thought that I was too old,” he said, drawing warm laughter as he thanked his family. As his speech came to a close, Skarsgård shifted from gratitude to gentle advocacy, using the moment to remind audiences why watching films together in a cinema still matters.Getty Images

“Hopefully you will see it in the cinema, because they are an extinguished species now. In a cinema, where the lights go down and eventually your chair…the pulse with some other people. That is magic. Cinema should be seen in cinemas,"

Jessie Buckley thanks crew member's soup in acceptance speech

Jessie Buckley’s acceptance speech took an unexpectedly cozy turn. After winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet, she paused to thank a crew member for making “delicious” soup during filming.

The moment quickly became a fan favorite online. “Love Jessie Buckley for spending so much time talking about soup in her acceptance speech HAHHAH,” one viewer wrote, perfectly capturing how a small, heartfelt detail turned into one of the night’s most endearing moments.

Amy Poehler wins first Golden Globes podcast award

The Golden Globes introduced a brand-new category this year, and the first-ever award for best podcast went to Good Hang with Amy Poehler. The win immediately leaned into comedy, especially with Snoop Dogg presenting the trophy.

“This is exactly how I pictured it, Snoop [Dogg] giving me the award,” Poehler joked during her acceptance speech. The interview podcast, which launched in 2025 on Spotify’s The Ringer, has quickly built a following, and Poehler used the moment to acknowledge the format itself.

“I just want to say that I know I am new to this game. I have great respect for this form. I have great respect for all the people that I am nominated with. I’m big fans of all of you, except for NPR, just a bunch of celebs phoning it in,” she added, delivering another line that viewers immediately clipped and shared.

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Sinners wins Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

Sinners took home the Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement after becoming one of the year’s biggest theatrical successes, pulling in nearly $400 million worldwide. The vampire thriller’s win doubled as a celebration of audiences actually showing up for something bold and original.

Writer and director Ryan Coogler used his acceptance speech to thank moviegoers directly, acknowledging the uncertainty that comes with releasing an ambitious film. “We didn't know that they would show up, so we just want to say thank you that they did. It meant the world to us,” he said, referencing the cast that includes Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo.

Online, viewers framed the moment as bigger than a single trophy. “Sinners didn’t just win a Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, it validated the idea that audiences will absolutely show up when you give them something original, well-made, and unapologetic. The market spoke loudly,” one person wrote.

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Owen Cooper becomes second-youngest Golden Globe-winning male actor of all time

Owen Cooper delivered one of the night’s most disarming moments. At just 16 years old, the Adolescence star became the youngest winner of the Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series award and the second-youngest male actor ever to take home a Golden Globe.

“Standing here at the Golden Globes does not feel real whatsoever. What an incredible journey me and my family have been put through,” Cooper said, still sounding stunned as he spoke. He reflected on how unsure he once felt stepping into acting, admitting, “What started off as what I thought I might be OK at, I might be awful at, I took a risk and I went to drama classes, I was the only boy there, it was embarrassing but I got through it.”

Throughout the speech, Cooper emphasized how much he is still learning. “I’m still very much an apprentice, I’m still learning every day, I’m still every day learning from the people sat in front of me who have inspired me. I wouldn’t be here without you guys,” he said, before laughing in disbelief, “This is mad, what is going on?”

He closed by looking ahead with a grin. “Bring on 2026. You’ll never walk alone,” he added, giving a nod to his football club, Liverpool.

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Timothee Chalamet win and says 'I love you' to 'partner' Kylie Jenner

Timothée Chalamet’s win came with a quiet moment that instantly made its way online. After taking home the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for Marty Supreme, he closed his acceptance speech with a brief but heartfelt nod to girlfriend Kylie Jenner.

“For my parents, for my partner, I love you, thank you so much,” he said, as cameras caught Jenner smiling and snapping a photo while he made his way to the stage. It was understated, personal, and exactly the kind of detail the internet loves to pause on.

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Heated Rivalry stars present an award (and steal the show)

Heated Rivalry has quickly become one of the most talked-about shows on television, and its stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie brought that energy straight to the Golden Globes stage. The pair were on hand to present the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series, and their banter instantly became a crowd favorite.

Williams walked out with confidence, while a visibly nervous Storrie followed close behind. “Hi, sorry it’s a bit nerve-wracking being here at our very first Golden Globes,” Storrie admitted, earning laughs before Williams tried to calm him down. “Just take a deep breath and picture everyone in the audience… you know,” he said.

Storrie quickly shut that idea down. “Yeah, I don’t really know if that works, considering everyone’s seen us… you know,” he replied, referencing the show’s notorious nude scenes. When Williams asked if he meant that everyone had seen Heated Rivalry, the audience erupted. “That’s a maybe,” Storrie said, before adding, “But their trainers have, and their moms have. Their daughters have.”

“Hi moms!” Williams jumped in, with Storrie following up, “Hi daughters!” turning the brief presentation into one of the night’s most replayed moments.

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Wanda Sykes thanking God and the trans community on behalf of Ricky Gervais

Wanda Sykes brought sharp humor and unmistakable confidence when she stepped on stage to present the award for Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television. She opened by thanking the Golden Globes for “having me,” before adding, “Because you know there is some people p***ed off that a queer, Black woman is doing the job of two mediocre white guys,” drawing loud reactions from the room.

Before announcing the winner, Sykes took a moment to acknowledge Ricky Gervais, thanking him for “not being here.” She quickly clarified, “No, I love you, Ricky,” before delivering the line that sent social media buzzing. “But because if you win, I get to accept the award on your behalf, and you’re going to thank God and the trans community.”

The joke landed with extra weight given Gervais’s well-known atheism and the backlash he previously faced for jokes about transgender people in his 2022 Netflix special SuperNature, making the moment one of the night’s most discussed segments online.

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"LMAOOOOO WANDA SYKES,"

K-pop Demon Hunters wins two Golden Globes

K-pop Demon Hunters had a major night, taking home two Golden Globes for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for the track Golden. The wins marked a celebratory moment for a film that has built a passionate fanbase.

Accepting the award for Best Original Song, EJAE, the singing voice behind the character Rumi, shared an emotional reflection on her journey. “When I was a little girl I worked tirelessly for 10 years to fulfill one dream, to become a K-pop idol, and I was rejected and disappointed that my voice wasn't good enough and so I leaned on songs and music to get through it, so now I'm here as a singer and a songwriter,” she said.

She continued by speaking to the song’s broader impact. “It's a dream come true to be part of a song that's helping other girls and other boys and everyone of all ages to get through their hardships, to accept themselves.” EJAE closed with a note of gratitude, adding, “So thank you Golden Globes for accepting my voice and our voice.”

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Leonardo DiCaprio gets 'activated' during commercial break

One unscripted moment involving Leonardo DiCaprio quickly took on a life of its own online. During a commercial break, cameras caught him appearing visibly animated about something off-screen, and viewers wasted no time turning it into a viral clip.

“Something has activated Leonardo DiCaprio during this commercial break,” one person wrote, a post that has since racked up more than 77,000 likes and spawned endless speculation, memes, and paused screenshots across social media.

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"i forget he has a personality sometimes."

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"So many new meme gifs here,"

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Ariana Grande 'leaves Glinda' behind

Ariana Grande’s appearance sparked its own mini moment online. Stepping onto the Golden Globes red carpet, she debuted her signature brown hair pulled into a slicked-back ponytail, marking a clear departure from the blonde look she wore while playing Glinda in Wicked and Wicked: For Good.

Fans immediately clocked the change, with one viral tweet summing it up perfectly. “Oh Glinda has officially left the building.”

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Who was on the aux? Internet reacts to the award show's music choices

By the end of the night, one question kept popping up across social media. Who was in charge of the music at the Golden Globes. Viewers could not stop reacting to some of the more unexpected song choices throughout the ceremony.

“Who’s in charge of music in the Golden Globes? ‘Return of the Mack’ for Macaulay Culkin? Really,” one person wrote, capturing the collective confusion that quickly turned into one of the night’s most shared running jokes.x

"Who tf is on the aux at the Golden Globes,"

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"The Golden Globes hired the best bar mitzvah DJ money could buy,"

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"Whoevers taking care of the music at the Golden Globes needs to be fired immediately,"

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"The music for the Golden Globes is crazy lol is it always like this and I’m forgetting?"

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"They are playing the most insane music at the Golden Globes. Why is Paul Thomas Anderson walking up to Party Rock Anthem,"

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"Bro WHO is picking the music for the Golden Globes wdym Stellan Skarsgard walked up to Yeah! by Usher I’m in tears,"

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The reason these moments stuck was simple. They felt real. Not every joke landed. Not every choice made sense. But people recognized themselves in the nerves, the gratitude, the chaos, and the joy.

The 2026 Golden Globes reminded viewers that culture does not move forward in polished soundbites. It moves through moments we argue about, laugh at, and replay together. If you found yourself texting clips to friends or debating your favorite moment, you were part of it. Share this with someone who watched too. Or someone who missed it and needs the highlights!