The 2026 Critics Choice Awards: Who Wasn't There?

The 2026 Critics Choice Awards were a big night for some, but not everyone showed up. The event, hosted by Chelsea Handler at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, saw many stars win big.

Winners of the Night

• Timothée Chalamet
• Jacob Elordi
• Noah Wyle

The films Frankenstein and Adolescence took home the most awards.

Notable Absences

Some big names were in the crowd but didn't win:

• Leonardo DiCaprio
• Michael B. Jordan

Others didn't show up at all:

• George Clooney (nominated for Jay Kelly)
• Pamela Anderson (The Naked Gun won Best Comedy)
• Liam Neeson
• Emma Stone (nominated for Bugonia)
• Sean Penn (One Battle After Another won Best Picture)
• Gwyneth Paltrow
• Cynthia Erivo
• Allison Janney
• Billy Bob Thornton
• Billy Crudup
• Renée Zellweger
• Greta Lee
• Julianne Moore
• Michelle Williams
• Robin Wright

Why the Absences?

It's not unusual for stars to skip awards shows. Sometimes they have other commitments, or they just don't want to attend.

Looking Ahead

The Critics Choice Awards are just the start of awards season, so there will be more chances for these stars to win and celebrate.