Golden Globes 2026 Channels Met Gala Energy with Dramatic New Red Carpet — Here’s Why It Was Redesigned

The Golden Globes are getting a dramatic makeover in 2026.

Due to ongoing construction at the Beverly Hilton — the iconic hotel that has hosted the awards for decades — the ceremony’s famous red carpet will look noticeably different this year. Instead of winding through the hotel’s interior corridors and covered walkways, the carpet will move entirely outdoors, stretching nearly 500 feet along Wilshire Boulevard.

“The biggest challenge is not creative,” showrunner Glenn Weiss tells Los Angeles Magazine. “It’s literal. It’s what’s left of this building.”

“We had a red carpet in a certain place here for years, and then the construction just took it away,” Weiss added. “Necessity is the mother of invention. So we had to come up with something different.”

The new setup takes inspiration from New York City’s Met Gala, replacing a traditional flat backdrop with a sweeping staircase designed to encourage movement and dynamic photo moments.

“We wanted it to feel like motion, not posing,” production designer Jitter Garcia explained. “Almost like a runway.”

Garcia said the team was meticulous when designing the steps, carefully considering gowns, trains, and footwear. “We were very intentional about the measurements,” she said. “We were thinking about the skirts, the trains, the heels.”

Production designer Kyle Absolom revealed that the original design was completely scrapped after it was finished.

“We were done, and then we looked at it again and thought it might not read correctly on camera,” Absolom said. “So we redid the whole thing.”

Garcia added that stylists were invited to preview the redesigned carpet ahead of the ceremony — a move she said was well received. “Now they know exactly what their clients are getting into,” she noted.

While the red carpet is undergoing a major transformation, much of the evening’s culinary experience will remain familiar. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa confirmed that approximately 1,200 plates will be served, with only minor updates to the menu and an additional sushi bar operating off-camera throughout the night.

“Everything has to be exact,” Matsuhisa said. “Most of the people here I already know. They come to my restaurants. I’m very comfortable.”

Comedian Nikki Glaser will return to host the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards.

Among film nominees, One Battle After Another leads with nine nominations, followed by Sentimental Value with eight and Sinners with seven. On the television side, The White Lotus earned the most nominations with six, while Adolescence followed closely with five.

The 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards will take place Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, airing live at 8 p.m. EST on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.