As A-listers took to centre stage, Newsworks explores how news brands covered some of the biggest nights in culture. The numerous ceremonies showcased the very best creative talent shaping entertainment in 2026
The Golden Globes
Awards season off to a roaring start
The Golden Globes kicked off the glitz of the season, shining a light on the best performances across both film and television.
As the 83rd annual ceremony took place in Beverly Hills, The Guardian informed readers about the wins throughout the night. Actors Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty cleaned up the awards for their hit Netflix drama, ‘Adolescence’.
Cooper, aged 16, made history as the youngest star to win the award for supporting actor in a limited series.
The Guardian also reported that actress Teyana Taylor was named best female supporting actress for her role in ‘One Battle After Another’, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
In a tearful speech, she devoted her award “to my brown sisters and little brown girls watching tonight”. The film led this year’s awards with four wins. On the TV side, the hit Netflix drama ‘Adolescence’ continued its awards sweep by picking up four Globe awards, including best limited series.
According to the Daily Mail, the win also made Cooper the second-youngest male Globe winner of all time. The first was ‘The Champ’ star Ricky Schroder, who won new star of the year in 1980 at nine years old.
Golden Globes glam
Celebrities displayed a range of fashion statements, from timeless silhouettes to classic tailoring. Guests showcased soft old Hollywood glamour and edgy trends, adding a modern flair to the red carpet.
Sheer materials creating nude illusions proved popular for the stars this year, meanwhile colour palettes of deep emeralds and browns was also a favourite. The Sun Showbiz explored the best dressed from the glamorous ceremony on its YouTube channel.
From bold season statements to everlasting elegance, news brands transformed Golden Globes fashion into must-read print, using double-page spreads to spotlight the night’s defining looks.
The Grammys
“ICE Out” pins and other artist statements
Several artists and attendees wore ‘ICE Out’ pins as a political statement, protesting against immigration policy and enforcement, The Standard reported.
The pins reflected a cultural moment where entertainers used their platforms to engage with ongoing political and social debates in the U.S.
Several other winners and nominees also used their moments to dedicate wins to immigrants or highlight migrant contributions.
Singer Bad Bunny made history by becoming the first artist to win album of the year with a project entirely in Spanish. In his acceptance speech he openly criticised the US Immigration and customs enforcement, saying “ICE out” and urging compassion and love over hate, the Independent reported.
Meanwhile, the Mirror dove into the singer’s growth from the Grammys to the Super Bowl halftime show, continuing to display a powerful political moment in music.
Stars braved the February cold as they attended the red carpet at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Standard and Independent Culture rounded up the variety of show-stopping style.
The famous carpet delivered bold, boundary pushing fashion, from pop star’s Olivia Dean in a show-stopping custom Chanel gown to Sabrina Carpenter in a fairy-tale-inspired Valentino dress and Chappell Roan’s daring Thierry Mugler outfit.
The Daily Mail shared a video to its TikTok channel, highlighting the key moments as the night unfolded. Elsewhere, The Independent informed readers of the list of well deserved winners of the night.
News brands covered record-breaking wins to statement making performances. Steven Spielberg and Kendrick Lamar led the history books, while artists used the stage to push messages, both political and personal. Those including a highly talked about minimalist turn from singer Justin Bieber and a star-studded tribute to the late ‘prince of darkness’ Ozzy Osbourne, featuring Post Malone, Slash, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Andrew Watt.
According to the Express and The Standard, Sharon Osbourne was overcome with emotion as Yungblud paid tribute to Osbourne’s late husband, six months after his death.
BAFTA Film Awards
The BAFTA Film Awards delivered major victories for ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘I Swear’. However, the night was also marked by controversy when Tourette’s advocate John Davidson involuntarily shouted offensive language during the live broadcast. The situation led to apologies from both BAFTA and the BBC for not editing the moment out. The ceremony also featured a surprise appearance from Paddington Bear, The Times reported.
The Guardian’s podcast ‘Today in Focus’ dove into the controversy, after the racial slur was broadcast live during the ceremony.
According to the podcast, Davidson said he was “distraught” by the backlash and had been reassured that any involuntary and potentially offensive language would be removed from the broadcast. Critics described the incident as a serious lapse in editorial oversight.
The Mirror and Metro Entertainment rounded up the key highlights, covering makeup mogul Kylie Jenner being offered a Jammy Dodger mid ceremony to K-pop star Rei Ami’s sweet interaction with Paddington Bear.
Meanwhile, the Sun Showbiz looked at the nominees who walked the red carpet.
@metroentertainment A night of pure movie magic. From red carpet glamour to @EE’s mind-blowing hologram technology beaming fans straight into the action, the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 did not disappoint. Paddington’s debut? Iconic. Let us know your fave moment #EEBAFTAs ♬ original sound – Metro Entertainment
The Prince and Princess of Wales made a return to the spotlight, appearing together at the awards for the first time in three years due to the Catherine’s cancer diagnosis, treatment plan and recovery.
The outing came just days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested at his home on the Sandringham Estate on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The royals sidestepped questions of a “monarchy in peril” on the red carpet, while projecting a message of composure and cultural commitment.
Palace Confidential from the Daily Mail discussed the talked about moment where Prince William admitted that he wasn’t “calm at the moment” in an interview, seen as a reference to the current Andrew controversy.
The Brits
The Brit Awards 2026 marked a bold new chapter for British music’s biggest night, as the ceremony relocated to Manchester for the first time.
News brands gave readers insight into a night full of show-stopping performances and historic wins as Harry Styles returned to the main stage.
The awards celebrates established icons and breakthrough talent, the Daily Star explained.
As the Brits brought music’s biggest stars to Manchester, headline sponsor Mastercard and The Guardian took readers on a tour of one of the UK’s most influential cultural hubs. From the iconic O2 Apollo to the record shops of the Northern Quarter, journalist Helen Nugent guided music fans through the must-see spots of the city’s legendary music scene.
Inside the Brit Awards 2026 after parties – crazy dancing to taking beers homehttps://t.co/vml1Rik4fw pic.twitter.com/hLojnHf91x
— Mirror Celeb (@MirrorCeleb) March 1, 2026
The Mirror Celeb’s X platform dove into the after parties, which took place at various venues across the city, including the newly opened Soho House Manchester.
The Guardian asked whether artists have a responsibility to speak out on politics. “Everything is politics. But now, more than ever, art is politics because you don’t get to make art in a fascist state”, Irish singer-songwriter CMAT said while speaking to the news brand on the Brits red carpet.
Artist Myles Smith added: “Art is rooted in politics… it’s such an important tool and vehicle.”
The Oscars
As the grand finale of the awards season, the Academy Awards returned in style. Comedian Conan O’Brien hosted the evening for a second year in the Dolby Theatre. News brands brought the highs and lows of the evening to readers’ attention across multiplatform formats.
The ceremony gathered the stars of Hollywood to celebrate the best films of 2025, with major contenders including ‘Sinners’, ‘One Battle After Another’, ‘Hamnet’ and ‘Frankenstein’. According to The Independent, the vampire action film ‘Sinners’ led the pack with a record-breaking 16 nominations, making it one of the biggest talking points of the night.
Jacob Stolworthy, The Independent’s culture news editor spoke to ‘Sinners’ actors Delroy Lindo and Jack O’Connell about the storylines and fascinating characters, as well as giving readers insight into the process of making a successful film.
‘Sinners’ won its four awards for score, cinematography, original screenplay and lead actor.
The Times and Sunday Times’ X platform highlighted Durald Arkapaw, as she made history for becoming the first black winner and the first woman to win the Oscar for best cinematography.
Accepting her award, she asked all the women in the room to stand up, stating that she wouldn’t be here without them in a heartwarming moment of the night.
Sinners wins best cinematography
— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) March 16, 2026
Sinners‘s Autumn Durald Arkapaw takes the Oscar for best cinematography. Durald Arkapaw, the first black winner and the first woman to win this Oscar, asked all the women in the room to stand up. “I wouldn’t be here without you,” she said pic.twitter.com/spBPsXtRyc
Meanwhile, the Mirror gave readers a tour behind the glamour of the Oscars red carpet. On its TikTok channel the news brand revealed a hidden tunnel where publicists, agents and assistants rush between arrivals unseen.
The passage kept staff out of the background of celebrity photos while behind the thin wall. According to the Mirror, organisers said it was “total chaos” as teams kept one of Hollywood’s biggest nights running smoothly.
The Oscars red carpet remains one of the most powerful stages for fashion and beauty. Taking place at the end of fashion month — tailing New York, London, Milan and Paris fashion weeks — celebrity looks serve as a platform for emerging trends and setting the tone for the season ahead.
The Daily Star explored the best red carpet looks, while The Independent’s culture YouTube channel gave readers insight to the 32nd annual official afterparty hosted by Vanity Fair. The exclusive event was held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, with another batch of celebrity arrivals on the second red carpet of the night.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DV4LrpbEqiX/Irish actress Jessie Buckley’s win marked a historic moment as the first Irish woman to secure the best actress for ‘Hamnet’.
Buckley reflected on the coincidence of winning the award on her first Mother’s Day in the UK, giving a heartfelt speech that touched on the joy of being motherhood and thanking her partner for the support.
The Oscars capped an extraordinary awards season for Buckley, who had already taken home best actress prizes at the Golden Globes and the Baftas, The Standard reported. The i Paper wrote: “She has been the darling of this awards season, she has campaigned tirelessly for months, and she has won everything going.”
Meanwhile, The Telegraph looked back at Buckley’s career, from reality TV hopeful to one of the industry’s stand out talents.
Timothée Chalamet’s recent viral claim that “nobody cares” about ballet and opera became a talking point throughout the night, according to the Express.
Host O’Brien turned his remark into a running joke in his opening monologue, while acknowledging the current issues in the United States politics and what many in the industry are calling “frightening times” for the arts and creative industries.
Stand out campaigns
Brands showed their support for the awards season through creative ads and tactical placement — take a look at the gallery below.
