Golden Globes 2027: Preview and What to Expect

The Golden Globes are the awards night that feels most like a party. Unlike the Oscars or the BAFTAs, where the audience sits in rows in a theatre, the Golden Globes take place at dinner tables, with nominees sharing food, drink, and conversation while the awards are presented. That relaxed atmosphere has made the Globes famous for unscripted speeches, surprising wins, and moments that are talked about for days afterwards. The 2027 Golden Globes will once again celebrate the best in both film and television, and this preview explains what to expect.

What makes the Globes different is that they cover film and television in a single ceremony. A film star and a television star can win on the same night, and a series that has been streamed by millions can be recognised alongside a film that has just been released in cinemas. That combination gives the Globes a broad, popular feel, and it is one of the reasons they are watched by audiences who may not follow the more formal film awards.

This preview does not predict nominees or winners, and it does not invent dates or details that have not been announced. The official Golden Globes website is the best source for confirmed dates, venue, host, and broadcast information. This guide explains how the awards work, what the categories mean, how the Globes relate to the Oscars, and how to follow the 2027 ceremony.

A Party With a Long History

The Golden Globe Awards were first presented in 1944, by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a group of journalists who covered Hollywood for newspapers and media outside the United States. The first ceremony was a small, informal event, and the awards have grown over the decades into one of the most watched ceremonies in the entertainment calendar. The name “Golden Globes” comes from the trophy itself: a golden globe on a pedestal, wrapped in a strip of film.

Over the years, the Globes have become known for their informal tone. Nominees sit at round tables, they eat and drink during the ceremony, and the speeches are often more relaxed — and sometimes more honest — than at other awards. That informality has produced some of the most memorable moments in awards history, from heartfelt tributes to jokes that made headlines. It has also made the Globes a useful guide to the mood of Hollywood, because the winners are chosen by journalists who watch a great deal of film and television, and who are not part of the film industry itself.

In recent years, the organisation behind the Globes has changed. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association was dissolved, and the awards are now presented by a new organisation, with a larger and more diverse voting body. Those changes were made in response to criticism about the size, diversity, and practices of the old voting group, and they are intended to make the awards more transparent and more representative. The 2027 ceremony will be judged, in part, on whether those changes have made a difference.

Film and Television in One Night

The Golden Globes are unusual because they honour both film and television. The film categories are divided into drama and musical or comedy, which means there are two Best Picture awards: one for drama, and one for musical or comedy. The same division applies to the acting awards, so there are separate awards for Best Actor and Best Actress in a drama and in a musical or comedy, as well as awards for supporting roles. This structure means that a comedy that might be overlooked at the Oscars can win a Globe, and that the Globes often recognise a wider range of films.

The television categories cover drama series, musical or comedy series, limited series, and acting awards for television, as well as awards for supporting actors. In recent years, the rise of streaming has changed the television categories, with series from Netflix, Apple TV+, HBO, and other platforms dominating the nominations. The Globes are often the first major awards to recognise a new series, and a Globe win can bring a show to the attention of a much larger audience.

For viewers, the combination of film and television makes the Globes a good introduction to the year’s entertainment. You do not need to have seen every film to enjoy the ceremony, because the television nominees are often shows you have already watched, and the film nominees include many of the year’s most talked-about releases.

How the Voting Works Now

The Golden Globe winners are chosen by a voting body of journalists who cover entertainment for media outside the United States. In the past, that body was small — fewer than a hundred members — which led to criticism that the awards were not representative and that they were vulnerable to influence. The new voting body is larger, with hundreds of members from many countries, and it includes journalists from a wider range of backgrounds.

The voting process begins with submissions from studios and networks, followed by a nomination vote, in which voters choose the nominees in each category. The nominees are announced in a public event, usually a few weeks before the ceremony, and the winners are chosen by a second vote. The exact timetable, the eligibility rules, and the list of voters are published by the Golden Globes organisation, and they should be checked on the official website for the 2027 awards.

For the audience, the most important part of the process is the nominations announcement, because it reveals which films and shows have impressed the voters, and which performances have been recognised. A film or a series with many nominations is likely to be a major contender, but the Globes are known for surprises, and a single win can change the course of an awards season.

The Globes and the Oscars: A Useful Guide, Not a Verdict

The Golden Globes take place early in the awards season, before the Oscars, and they are often described as a predictor of Oscar success. A film that wins Best Drama at the Globes is often a strong contender for Best Picture at the Oscars, and an actor who wins a Globe is often nominated for an Oscar. That pattern holds often enough to be useful, but it is not a rule, and there are many examples of Globe winners who did not win an Oscar, and of Oscar winners who did not win a Globe.

The reason is that the two awards are voted for by different groups, with different tastes. The Globes are voted for by journalists, who may favour a popular, entertaining film, while the Oscars are voted for by film professionals, who may favour a more artistic or technically accomplished film. The Globes also divide films into drama and musical or comedy, which means a comedy can win a Globe but may not be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Understanding that difference helps viewers to enjoy both ceremonies without treating one as a rehearsal for the other.

For film lovers, the Globes are best used as a guide to what to watch, rather than as a prediction of what will win an Oscar. A Globe nomination can introduce you to a film or a series you have not seen, and a Globe win can tell you that a performance is worth your time. The rest — the speeches, the fashion, the surprises — is entertainment, and it should be enjoyed as such.

How to Watch and Follow the 2027 Ceremony

The Golden Globes ceremony is usually held in Beverly Hills, California, in January, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, and it is broadcast on television in the United States and in many other countries. The exact date, host, and broadcast details for 2027 are announced by the Golden Globes organisation, and they should be checked on the official website. In the United States, the ceremony has been broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, but broadcast arrangements can change, so check the official listings closer to the date.

If you cannot watch live, the winners are reported widely in the news, and highlights, speeches, and photographs are shared on social media and on the Golden Globes website. Many viewers follow the ceremony on social media, where the best moments are shared in real time, and where film and television fans discuss the results as they happen.

To get the most from the ceremony, it helps to have seen some of the nominated films and series, or at least to have read about them. Keep a list of the nominees, note the films and shows you want to watch, and enjoy the night as a celebration of the year’s entertainment. The Globes are at their best when they are fun, and the 2027 ceremony, with its dinner-table atmosphere, should be no exception.

Memorable Moments: Speeches, Surprises, and the Night’s Story

Every Golden Globes ceremony produces moments that are remembered long after the winners are forgotten. A speech that is funny, brave, or heartfelt can become the story of the night, and a surprise win can change the conversation about a film or a series. The dinner-table setting makes those moments more likely, because winners are relaxed, they are among friends, and they speak more freely than they would in a formal theatre. For viewers, those moments are the reason to watch live, rather than to read the results the next morning.

The Globes have also been a stage for important statements, with winners using their speeches to talk about issues that matter to them, from diversity to freedom of expression. Those speeches are not always comfortable, and they are not always agreed with, but they are part of what makes the Globes a cultural event, not only an awards ceremony. The 2027 ceremony will have its own moments, and they will be shared, discussed, and debated in the days that follow.

The Golden Globes and Global Cinema

The Golden Globes are voted for by journalists who cover Hollywood for media outside the United States, and that international perspective has always been part of the awards. In recent years, that perspective has become more important, as films and series from many countries have been recognised, and as the audience for the Globes has become more global. A film in a language other than English, or a series from a country outside the United States, can win a Globe, and that win can bring it to a worldwide audience. That global reach is one of the Globes’ strengths, and it is one that the 2027 ceremony should continue to build on.

The Nominations Announcement: The Night Before the Night

The Golden Globes nominations are announced in a public event, usually a few weeks before the ceremony, and for many film and television fans, that announcement is as exciting as the ceremony itself. The nominees are read out, often by actors who have been nominated in the past, and the list is then shared widely in the news and on social media. A film or a series that receives many nominations is immediately seen as a major contender, while a surprise nomination — for a small film, a new series, or a first-time actor — can change the conversation overnight. The nominations also give viewers a list to work through: which films have I seen, which series do I want to watch, and which performances should I look out for? That list is one of the most useful parts of awards season, because it turns a ceremony into a guide, and it helps audiences to discover work they might otherwise miss. Check the official Golden Globes website for the confirmed nominations, and be wary of lists shared on social media before the official announcement, because they may be rumours rather than facts.

The Globes in the Wider Awards Season

The Golden Globes are the first major awards of the season, and they set the tone for what follows. A win at the Globes can give a film or a series momentum, bringing it to the attention of voters for the BAFTAs, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Oscars. But momentum is not a guarantee: many Globe winners have not gone on to win an Oscar, and many Oscar winners were not Globe winners. That is because each awards body has different voters, different tastes, and different rules, and a film that appeals to journalists may not appeal in the same way to film professionals. Following the whole season, from the Globes through the BAFTAs to the Oscars, gives you a fuller picture of the year, and it helps you to enjoy each ceremony on its own terms, rather than treating the Globes as a rehearsal for something else.

My Take:

My honest view is that the Golden Globes are the most enjoyable awards ceremony to watch, precisely because they do not take themselves too seriously. The dinner tables, the drinks, the relaxed speeches, and the mix of film and television make the night feel like a celebration rather than a formal ritual, and that is a good thing. The Oscars are important, and the BAFTAs are prestigious, but the Globes are fun, and fun matters, because it brings in viewers who might not otherwise watch an awards show. I hope the 2027 Globes keep that spirit, even as the organisation behind them becomes more formal and more accountable. A party can be well-run without becoming boring, and the Globes should aim for that balance.

I also believe that the changes to the voting body were necessary, and that they should be judged by results, not by promises. The old Hollywood Foreign Press Association was too small, too closed, and too lacking in diversity to represent the global audience that watches film and television today. A larger, more diverse voting body is a step in the right direction, but it only matters if the nominations and the winners reflect that diversity. I will be watching the 2027 nominations to see whether a wider range of films, series, and performances are recognised, and whether the Globes have learned from the criticism they faced. If they have, the awards will be stronger for it; if they have not, the criticism will return, and it will be deserved.

Another point I care about is the way the Globes treat television. For many viewers, television is now as important as film, and a series can be as ambitious, as moving, and as well-made as any film. The Globes were early in recognising television, and they should continue to do so, by honouring series from streaming platforms, from different countries, and from new voices, not only the most popular shows. A Globe for a small, brave series can change its future, bringing it new viewers and a new season, and that is a power the awards should use wisely.

On the subject of predictions, my view is simple: enjoy the guessing, but do not take it too seriously. A Globe win does not make a film better, and a Globe loss does not make it worse. The awards are a guide, a conversation starter, and a night of entertainment, and they should be treated as such. I would rather watch a film because it looks interesting than because it won a Globe, and I would rather form my own opinion than repeat the opinion of a voting body. That independence is what makes a viewer, not a follower, and it is what the Globes should encourage.

I also think that the speeches at the Globes matter more than they do at other awards, because the relaxed atmosphere allows winners to speak more honestly. A speech that is heartfelt, funny, or brave can be more memorable than the award itself, and it can tell us something about the person and the work they have done. I hope the 2027 winners use that opportunity well, and that they speak about the films and series they love, the people who helped them, and the stories that matter to them. A good speech is a gift to the audience, and it is one of the reasons the Globes are worth watching live.

Finally, I believe that the Golden Globes should be judged as a whole: as a night that celebrates film and television, that brings people together, and that introduces audiences to new work. If the 2027 ceremony does that, if it is fair, if it is fun, and if it recognises the best of the year, then it will have succeeded, whatever the individual results. I will be watching, not only for the winners, but for the moments that make the night memorable, and for the films and series that I want to see next. The nominations announcement is where that journey begins, because it gives us the list of contenders, the surprises, and the new names to discover. I will be reading that list carefully, not to predict the winners, but to find the films and series I have missed, and to make a list of what to watch before the ceremony. That is the best use of an awards list, and it is one that any viewer can enjoy.

I also want to add a word about the global side of the Globes, because it is often overlooked. The voters are international journalists, and the audience is international too, and that gives the Globes a chance to recognise films and series from many countries, in many languages. A Globe win for a non-English film or series can change its future, bringing it subtitles, a streaming deal, and a new audience. I hope the 2027 Globes use that power well, and that they look beyond Hollywood to the wider world of film and television.

One more thought is about the speeches, because at the Globes, more than at any other awards, the speeches are part of the show. A winner who speaks honestly, who thanks the people who helped them, and who says something true about their work, gives the audience a gift. I hope the 2027 winners do that, and that the ceremony gives them the time and the space to speak, rather than rushing them off the stage. A good speech is remembered long after the trophy is put on a shelf, and it is one of the reasons the Globes are worth watching.

A final thought on watching the Globes: enjoy the party, enjoy the speeches, and enjoy the surprises, but do not treat the results as a final judgement. A film or a series does not become better because it wins a Globe, and it does not become worse because it loses one. The best use of the night is to discover new work, to make a list of what to watch, and to form your own opinion. That independence is what makes a viewer, not a follower, and it is the most rewarding way to follow awards season.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the Golden Globes 2027?

The exact date, venue, host, and broadcast details are announced by the Golden Globes organisation on its official website. Check https://goldenglobes.com/ for the confirmed information.

What is the difference between the Golden Globes and the Oscars?

The Golden Globes honour both film and television, are voted for by entertainment journalists, and divide film awards into drama and musical or comedy. The Oscars honour film only and are voted for by film professionals.

How are Golden Globe winners chosen?

Winners are chosen by a voting body of entertainment journalists. The process includes a nomination vote, a public announcement of nominees, and a final vote to choose the winners in each category.

Can I watch the Golden Globes outside the United States?

Broadcast arrangements vary by country. Check the official Golden Globes website and local listings for television or streaming options in your country.

What are the main Golden Globe film categories?

The main film categories include Best Motion Picture in drama and in musical or comedy, Best Director, Best Actor and Actress in leading and supporting roles, Best Screenplay, and awards for animation, non-English language film, and original score and song.

Which films are nominated for the Golden Globes 2027?

The nominees are announced by the Golden Globes organisation in the weeks before the ceremony. This preview does not list nominees, because they had not been announced at the time of writing.