The most memorable moments from the Golden Globes 2026 awards night

The 83rd Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles was a memorable night that did more than just hand out trophies. The ceremony mixed laughter and raw emotion, historic firsts, and moments that sparked conversations. The red carpet dazzled, of course, with stars channelling their very best looks, while the stage delivered speeches that felt refreshingly real, and with a dash of humour too. From newcomers owning their moment to industry icons receiving standing ovations, the Globes kicked off awards season in a way that will be talked about for weeks, setting the tone for weeks of buzz, debates, and replays.

Here's a recap of some of our favourite moments from the night.

Teyana Taylor’s emotional speech

One of the biggest emotional highs of the night came when Teyana Taylor accepted the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in One Battle After Another. With tears in her eyes, she addressed the importance of being seen and celebrated, especially for women of colour who have historically been overlooked. "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," she gushed.

The Golden Globes introduced a brand-new podcast category

For the first time in Golden Globes history, the ceremony presented an award for Best Podcast. It felt like a cultural milestone given how audiences are increasingly steering towards storytelling beyond traditional screens. Amy Poehler won the inaugural award for Good Hang with Amy Poehler, and the moment signalled a broader shift in how award shows define entertainment.

Nikki Glaser didn't hold back

Host Nikki Glaser stood out as one of the most talked-about parts of the evening. Returning for a second year, she opened with a monologue that mixed playful jabs at Hollywood’s biggest stars with sharp cultural commentary. She joked about Kevin Hart's height, Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriends, asked George Clooney to fix her Nespresso machine, and she did not shy away from taking a jab at the infamous Epstein Files either, leaving the audience in splits.

K-pop has its 'Golden' moment

Korean pop had a moment of its own at the Globes, courtesy of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters'. The song 'Golden' from the film won Best Original Song. Ejae, who wrote the lyrics and sang for the film's character Rumi, accepted the award and said, "It's a dream come true to be part of a song that's helping other girls, other boys and everyone from all ages to get through their hardships and accept themselves." The film also took home the award for Best Animated Motion Picture. 

What did Snoop Dogg say?

Snoop Dogg probably gave the internet the most viral moment of the night. While presenting the new Best Podcast award, he joked about the evolution of media and made viewers laugh with his playful commentary. However, it was his declaration that he was "high as a motherf*****" that became the highlight of the night, even though it was quickly censored.

Julia Roberts gets a standing ovation without even winning!

Even moments that weren’t tied to awards made headlines. When Julia Roberts took the stage to present Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy award, she got one of the loudest cheers of the night from the audience. The prolonged standing ovation left Roberts gushing as she quipped, "I am going to be impossible for at least a week. I appreciate that." Roberts was nominated in the Best Actress in a Drama category, but did not win.

Lead image: Getty

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