Nominations for the 2026 Golden Globe Awards dropped on Monday, 8 December 2026. And this time, Africans, people of African descent and African-made films carved out well-deserved spaces on the global stage.
From Cynthia Erivo to Ayo Edebiri, and from Tunisia to Morocco, the continent is showing up in major categories as genuine contenders.
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African Actors Nominated for the 2026 Golden Globes
Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Wicked’ Nod
Nigerian-British actress Cynthia Erivo secured a nomination for Best Female Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) for her role in “Wicked: For Good.”
She was also nominated last year for the first part of the Wicked movie, making history as the first African to be nominated two years in a row for lead actress (comedy or musical) category.
Cynthia has won all the major awards and is just one step away from coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) status; she just needs an Oscar. Additionally, she has 5 Golden Globe nominations under her belt.
Her nomination is significant not just for the film but for African representation in Hollywood musicals, a category historically dominated by Western talent.
Ayo Edebiri’s Nomination for ‘The Bear’
On the TV side, Ayo Edebiri, the Nigerian-American breakout star, earned her third Golden Globe nomination for “Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy” for her portrayal of chef Sydney Adamu in FX on Hulu’s ‘The Bear.’ In 2023, she took home the prize.
Edebiri’s rise speaks to a wider trend: African diaspora talent is becoming increasingly central to modern American TV and comedy, rather than peripheral.
African Stories Breaking Into Global Awards in the 2026 Golden Globes Nominations
Tunisia’s ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’
In the Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language category, Tunisia’s powerful drama The Voice of Hind Rajab made the final shortlist.
This nomination signals a growing appetite for North African storytelling and a shift away from the long-standing Eurocentric dominance in international film categories.
Morocco’s ‘Sirāt’
A major production filmed in Morocco, Sirāt, also earned a nomination in the same category.
With its rich cinematography and region-specific storytelling, Sirāt further cements Morocco’s position as one of Africa’s strongest film production hubs.
Major Highlights From the 2026 Golden Globes Nominations
Outside African categories, the 2026 Golden Globes field is stacked:
- One Battle After Another leads with 9 nominations, including Best Comedy/Musical Picture and acting nods for Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, and Teyana Taylor.
- Sentimental Value follows with 8 nominations.
- Sinners, a period horror from the creator of Black Panther, landed 7 nominations.
- Hamnet scored six nominations.
- Frankenstein and Wicked: For Good earned 5 nominations each.
On TV, comedy and musical heavyweights dominate:
- The Bear is among the favourites.
- Drama essentials like The White Lotus and Severance are strong contenders.
Directorial nods for 2026 went to prominent industry names, including Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Ryan Coogler (Sinners), and Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein).
Why These Nominations Matter for African Cinema
- Representation is expanding. Seeing African actors and African films in Golden Globes categories signals that stories from Lagos, Nairobi, Kigali, Cairo, Accra, and the diaspora are resonating globally.
- International categories are diversifying. Tunisia and Morocco breaking through highlights that global film awards are evolving beyond their Euro-American defaults.
- Oscar momentum begins here. Golden Globes nominees often shape the early Oscar conversation. Success for Erivo, Edebiri, or the North African films could translate into increased global funding, casting opportunities, and visibility for African cinema.
Celebrate the Nods, But Keep Watching
This edition of the Golden Globes feels different. This time, we have African stories and African talent not just being part of the conversation, but being prominent figures.
So grab your popcorn and keep an eye on the road to January 11, 2026, when the award show happens. If this momentum continues, African cinema and diaspora talent might be a big part of what Hollywood celebrates next, even at the Oscars.
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