How To Watch the 2026 Critics Choice Awards for Free
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The 2026 Critics Choice Awards are kicking off this year’s awards season, and you won’t want to miss a chance to watch the show.
The 31st annual Critics Choice Awards will kick off on Sunday, Jan. 4, at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on E! and USA Network, but if you don’t have cable, there are plenty of ways to watch for free. E! is also hosting a two-hour red carpet preshow at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET.
How to Watch The Critics Choice Awards for Free
To watch the Critics Choice Awards for Free, you’ll need to sign up for a free trial to streaming services that carry E! or USA Network, such as DirecTV Stream if you sign up for a free trial. You can also get E! on Hulu+ With Live TV and Sling TV.
DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $89.99 per month after the trial ends (with $10 off your first three months). Fubo offers a seven-day free trial and starts at $84.99 per month after the trial ends.
While Hulu+ With Live TV has a three-day free trial, it is an easy upgrade if you’re already a Hulu user.
Sling TV does not have a free trial option, but with 1-day passes available for $4.99 and plans starting from $29.99, it is the cheapest option on our list. However, ABC availability depends on your location, so please make sure it’s available in your market before choosing a Sling TV plan.
BEST OVERALL PICK
DirecTV Stream
– 5-day Free Trial
– Includes ABC, local networks, and 90+ channels
– Choose between 3 plans
DirecTV is our best overall pick to watch the 2026 Critics Choice Awards because of its free trial option, its price, and its wide channel selection.
DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and offers three plans: Entertainment, which costs $89.99 per month; Choice, which costs $94.99 per month; and Ultimate, which costs $124.99 per month. E! is available with all three plans.
What are the differences between the plans? Entertainment includes more than 90 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice includes more than 125 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 160 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice.
How to watch the 2026 Critics Choice Awards with DirecTV Stream’s free trial:
- Visit DirecTVstream.com/offers/packages page
- Select “Start 5-day free trial”
- Choose the plan of your choice
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for E! and start watching the 2026 Critics Choice Awards
BEST BUDGET PICK
Sling TV
– No Free Trial
– E! is available with Sling Blue package and Sling Orange + Blue package
Sling TV is our best budget pick because of its range of low-price offers. E! is available on Sling TV’s Sling Blue plan (which comes with 40 networks), and Sling Orange + Blue (which allows you to combine all networks).
Right now, Sling Orange + Blue is available for $29.99 for your first month, and $60.99 after. Sling Blue is available for $45.99 a month.
How to watch the Critics Choice Awards with Sling TV:
- Visit Sling.com/Service/Compare-Plans
- Click “Sign Up Now”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for E! and start watching the Critics Choice Awards
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the 2026 Critics Choice Awards based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $89.99 per month ad-supported plan, which gets you Hulu + Live TV (with ads, access to 95+ channels, unlimited DVR, Disney+ (with ads), ESPN Select (with ads), and Hulu (with ads). An ad-free plan costs $99.99 per month, which offers Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN Select (with ads) alongside Live TV.
How to watch the 2026 Critics Choice Awards with Hulu+ With Live TV:
- Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
- Click “Sign Up Now”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for E! and start watching the Critics Choice Awards
What Time Does the Critics Choice Awards Start?
The 2026 Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, Jan. 4, at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on E! and USA Network. Ahead of the show, E! is hosting a two-hour red carpet preshow at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET.
Who Is Hosting the 2026 Critics Choice Awards?
Chelsea Handler is hosting the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. She has hosted the show every year since 2023. Click here to see all previous hosts of the show.