Timothee Chalamet wins Best Actor Award, declares love for Kylie Jenner at Critics Choice Awards 2026

At the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, the American-French actor Timothée Chalamet emerged as one of the night’s most talked-about figures, clinching the Best Actor award and turning his acceptance speech into a deeply personal moment by openly professing his love for the American businesswoman Kylie Jenner.

While Chalamet took individual acting honors, the evening’s highest prize ultimately went to One Battle After Another, which secured Best Picture in a ceremony packed with surprises and upsets.

The 30-year-old actor triumphed over Hollywood heavyweight Leonardo DiCaprio for his performance in the ping-pong drama Marty Supreme.

The win marked a defining milestone for Chalamet, who edged out a formidable lineup of nominees that included DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Joel Edgerton for Train Dreams, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent.

Although DiCaprio missed out on Best Actor, his film One Battle After Another dominated where it mattered most, taking home Best Picture. Elsewhere in the film categories, Jessie Buckley delivered one of the night’s biggest shocks by winning Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet, outperforming a crowded and high-profile field.

During his acceptance speech, Chalamet appeared visibly nervous, stumbling slightly as he made a point of acknowledging each of his fellow nominees by name. Early in his remarks, he paid tribute to director Josh Safdie, saying:
"Thanks for crafting a role and a story.
You know, Josh, you made a story about a flawed man with a relatable dream, and you didn't preach to the audience about what's right and wrong. I think we should all be telling stories like that. Thank you for this dream."

In Marty Supreme, Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a young man whose ambitions are dismissed by those around him and who endures immense hardship in his relentless pursuit of greatness.

The most emotional moment of the night came when Chalamet turned his attention to Jenner, his 28-year-old girlfriend of three years. From the stage, he said:
"Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation.
I love you. I couldn't do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Jenner, seated in the audience, appeared tearful as she gazed at him and responded softly:
"I love you, too."

The 2026 Critics Choice Awards ended as a night of emotional declarations, unexpected victories, and shifting power dynamics, leaving Hollywood buzzing about what comes next.