Alex Warren to Host Kids’ Choice Awards, Airing on CBS for the First Time; Taylor Swift Leads Nominees

Alex Warren has been tapped to host the 2026 Kids’ Choice Awards, where Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter lead the list of nominees for the orange blimp statuette. The show, officially titled CBS Presents Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, will air live at 8-9:30 p.m. ET/5-6:30 p.m. PT on Nov. 14 from Television City in Los Angeles. This year marks the first time that the show will air on CBS in addition to Nickelodeon. (It also will stream live on Paramount+ for Premium subscribers and on-demand the next day for both Premium and Essential subscribers in the U.S and will be available globally on Paramount+ following its linear premiere on Nickelodeon.) Warren, a multiplatinum Grammy-nominated recording artist, will emcee the event, which honors fans’ favorites from the worlds of film, television, music, gaming, sports and more. Taylor Swift leads this year’s nominees with a total of six mentions, followed by Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with five apiece. Among the movies and series that are up for KCAs are The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Toy Story 5, Wednesday, Wicked: For Good, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, KPop Demon Hunters and Percy Jackson and the Olympians. In addition, producers this year have introduced three new categories: Watch Party: Kids’ Choice, Favorite Onscreen Duo/Trio and Favorite Clutch Player of the Year. Voting in 36 categories is open for fans at kidschoiceawards.com. Musical performances and celebrity appearances will be announced at a later date. The 2026 KCAs are produced by Done + Dusted. A full list of nominees follows. FAVORITE MOVIE Avatar: Fire and AshHow to Train Your DragonJurassic World RebirthLilo & StitchMoanaSpider-Man: Brand New DaySupermanWicked: For Good FAVORITE MOVIE ACTRESS Anne Hathaway (Andy Sachs, The Devil Wears Prada 2)Ariana Grande (Glinda, Wicked: For Good)Catherine Laga’aia (Moana, Moana)Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba, Wicked: For Good)Millie Bobby Brown (Enola Holmes, Enola Holmes 3)Scarlett Johansson (Zora Bennett, Jurassic World Rebirth)Zendaya (MJ, Spider-Man: Brand New Day)Zoe Saldaña (Neytiri, Avatar: Fire and Ash) FAVORITE MOVIE ACTOR Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore, Happy Gilmore 2)David Corenswet (Clark Kent/Superman, Superman)Dwayne Johnson (Maui, Moana)Hugh Jackman (George Handy, The Sheep Detectives)John Cena (Buddy Crane, Coyote vs. Acme)Ryan Gosling (Ryland Grace, Project Hail Mary)Tom Holland (Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Spider-Man: Brand New Day)Zach Galifianakis (Dr. Jumba Jookiba, Lilo & Stitch) FAVORITE ANIMATED MOVIE Avatar Aang: The Last AirbenderKPop Demon HuntersMinions & MonstersPAW Patrol: The Dino MovieThe SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePantsThe Super Mario Galaxy MovieToy Story 5Zootopia 2 FAVORITE FEMALE ANIMATED VOICE FROM A MOVIE Anya Taylor-Joy (Princess Peach, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie)Arden Cho (Rumi, KPop Demon Hunters)Brie Larson (Rosalina, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie)Gabrielle Union (Jett Fillmore, GOAT)Ginnifer Goodwin (Judy Hopps, Zootopia 2)Joan Cusack (Jessie, Toy Story 5)Mckenna Grace (Skye, PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie)Rihanna (Smurfette, Smurfs) FAVORITE MALE ANIMATED VOICE FROM A MOVIE Ahn Hyo-seop (Jinu, KPop Demon Hunters)Chris Pratt (Mario, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie)Jack Black (Bowser, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie)Jason Bateman (Nick Wilde, Zootopia 2)Michael B. Jordan (Ollie, Swapped)Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story 5)Tom Hanks (Woody, Toy Story 5)Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants) WATCH PARTY: KIDS’ CHOICE A Very Jonas Christmas MovieCamp Rock 3Clash of the ThundermansDescendants: Wicked WonderlandDora and the Search for Sol DoradoZombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires FAVORITE VILLAIN Emily Blunt (Emily Charlton, The Devil Wears Prada 2)Jack Black (Bowser, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie)Jeff Goldblum (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked: For Good)John Cena (Buddy Crane, Coyote vs. Acme)Julia Garner (Shalla-Bal/The Silver Surfer, Fantastic Four: First Steps)Mark Hamill (The Flying Dutchman, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants)Sadie Sink (Jean Grey, Spider-Man: Brand New Day)Zach Galifianakis (Dr. Jumba Jookiba, Lilo & Stitch) FAVORITE KIDS TV SHOW Avatar: The Last AirbenderPercy Jackson and the OlympiansSoy Luna: Let’s Roll AgainThe Thundermans: UndercoverVampirina: Teenage VampireWizards Beyond Waverly Place FAVORITE FAMILY TV SHOW Abbott ElementaryGhostsGinny & GeorgiaMalcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still UnfairOne PieceStranger ThingsWednesdayXO, Kitty FAVORITE TV SHOW REALITY COMPETITION American IdolAmerican Ninja WarriorAmerica’s Got TalentLEGO MastersSurvivorThe Voice FAVORITE CARTOON Big City GreensPhineas and FerbSpongeBob SquarePantsTeen Titans Go!The Bad Guys: The SeriesThe Simpsons FAVORITE FEMALE TV STAR (KIDS) Elizabeth Yu (Azula, Avatar: The Last Airbender)Janice LeAnn Brown (Billie, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place)Kenzi Richardson (Vampirina “Vee” Hauntley, Vampirina: Teenage Vampire)Kira Kosarin (Phoebe Thunderman, The Thundermans: Undercover)Leah Sava’ Jeffries (Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson and the Olympians)Maya Le Clark (Chloe Thunderman, The Thundermans: Undercover) FAVORITE MALE TV STAR (KIDS) Alkaio Thiele (Roman Russo, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place)Aryan Simhadri (Grover Underwood, Percy Jackson and the Olympians)David Henrie (Justin Russo, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place)Gordon Cormier (Aang, Avatar: The Last Airbender)Jack Griffo (Max Thunderman, The Thundermans: Undercover)Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson, Percy Jackson and the Olympians) FAVORITE FEMALE TV STAR (FAMILY) Anna Cathcart (Kitty, XO, Kitty)Antonia Gentry (Ginny Miller, Ginny & Georgia)Catherine-Zeta Jones (Morticia Addams, Wednesday)Emma Myers (Enid Sinclair, Wednesday)Jenna Ortega (Wednesday Addams, Wednesday)Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven, Stranger Things)Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield, Stranger Things)Quinta Brunson (Janine Teagues, Abbott Elementary) FAVORITE MALE TV STAR (FAMILY) Bryan Cranston (Hal, Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair)Cedric the Entertainer (Calvin Butler, The Neighborhood)David Harbour (Jim Hopper, Stranger Things)Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler, Stranger Things)Frankie Muniz (Malcolm Wilkerson, Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair)Isaac Ordonez (Pugsley Addams, Wednesday)Joe Keery (Steve Harrington, Stranger Things)Tyler James Williams (Gregory Eddie, Abbott Elementary) FAVORITE ONSCREEN DUO/TRIO Arden Cho, Ji-young Yoo, and May Hong (Rumi, Zoey, and Mira, KPop Demon Hunters)Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo (Glinda and Elphaba, Wicked: For Good)Gaten Matarazzo and Joe Keery (Dustin Henderson and Steve Harrington, Stranger Things)Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman (Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, Zootopia 2)Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan (Tess Coleman and Anna Coleman, Freakier Friday)Jenna Ortega and Emma Myers (Wednesday Addams and Enid Sinclair, Wednesday)Joan Cusack, Tim Allen, and Tom Hanks (Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, and Woody, Toy Story 5)Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci (Miranda Priestly and Nigel Kipling, The Devil Wears Prada 2) FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST Ariana GrandeCardi BKarol GMileyOlivia RodrigoROSÉSabrina CarpenterTaylor Swift FAVORITE MALE ARTIST Benson BooneBruno MarsDrakeEd SheeranHarry StylesJustin BieberLil Uzi VertTyler, The Creator FAVORITE MUSIC GROUP OR DUO BLACKPINKBTSJonas BrothersMaroon 5Twenty One PilotsWeezer FAVORITE FEMALE BREAKOUT ARTIST/GROUP ADÉLAElla LangleyKATSEYEOlivia DeanRAYEStella Lefty FAVORITE MALE BREAKOUT ARTIST/GROUP BigXthaPlugDon ToliverNoah KahanRole ModelSOMBRTemper City FAVORITE SONG “Daisies” – Justin Bieber“drop dead” – Olivia Rodrigo“hate that i made you love me” – Ariana Grande“I Just Might” – Bruno Mars“Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter“SWIM” – BTS“The Fate of Ophelia” – Taylor Swift“The Time of My Life” – Benson Boone FAVORITE SONG FROM A MOVIE “Big Guy” – Ice Spice (The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants)“Dream As One” – Miley (Avatar: Fire and Ash)“For Good” – Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande (Wicked: For Good)“Golden” – EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami (KPop Demon Hunters)“I Knew It, I Knew You” – Taylor Swift (Toy Story 5)“Just Keep Watching” – Tate McRae (F1)“RUNWAY” – Lady Gaga, Doechii (The Devil Wears Prada 2)“Zoo” – Shakira (Zootopia 2) FAVORITE VIRAL SONG “Babydoll” – Jamie Miller“Boston” – Stella Lefty“Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley“E85” – Don Toliver“Hit the Wall” – Gracie Abrams“Man I Need” – Olivia Dean“TIT FOR TAT” – Tate McRae“WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” – RAYE FAVORITE MUSIC COLLABORATION “Bloodline” – Alex Warren (with Jelly Roll)“Bring Your Love” – Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter“Dai Dai” – Shakira, Burna Boy“Dracula (with JENNIE)” – Tame Impala, JENNIE“I Can’t Love You Anymore” – Ella Langley (feat. Morgan Wallen)“Safe” – Cardi B (feat. Kehlani)“Stateside + Zara Larsson” – PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson“The Life of a Showgirl” – Taylor Swift (feat. Sabrina Carpenter) FAVORITE ALBUM Am I the Drama? – Cardi BARIRANG – BTSICEMAN – DrakeMan’s Best Friend – Sabrina CarpenterSWAG – Justin BieberThe Romantic – Bruno MarsThe Life of a Showgirl – Taylor Swiftyou seem pretty sad for a girl so in love – Olivia Rodrigo FAVORITE GLOBAL MUSIC STAR Africa: TylaAsia: BINIAustralia: Tame ImpalaEurope: Zara LarssonLatin America: Karol GNorth America: Taylor SwiftUK: Olivia Dean FAVORITE FEMALE CREATOR Brooke MonkCharli D’AmelioHaley KalilLexi RiveraPokimaneSalish MatterSofie DossiTaylen Biggs FAVORITE MALE CREATOR AirrackDude PerfectIShowSpeedJesserKai CenatMrBeastSeanDoesMagicUnspeakable FAVORITE CREATOR FAMILY Earle FamilyFamilia DiamondJordan and Salish MatterNinja Kidz TVThe Bucket List FamilyThe Fun SquadVlad and Niki FAVORITE FEMALE SPORTS STAR A’ja WilsonAlysa LiuAngel ReeseCaitlin ClarkChloe KimCoco GauffMikaela ShiffrinTrinity Rodman FAVORITE MALE SPORTS STAR Anthony EdwardsLeBron JamesLewis HamiltonLionel MessiPatrick MahomesShohei OhtaniStephen CurryTravis Kelce FAVORITE CLUTCH PLAYER OF THE YEAR Caleb WilliamsEileen GuFreddie FreemanHilary KnightJack HughesJalen BrunsonNelly KordaShai Gilgeous-Alexander FAVORITE VIDEO GAME Among UsAvatar Legends: The Fighting GameFortniteMinecraftRobloxSuper Mario Bros. Wonder FAVORITE PODCAST anything goes with emma chamberlainAvatar: Braving the ElementsBaby, This is Keke PalmerHey Jonas!LOL PodcastNew Heights with Jason & Travis KelcePercy Jackson and the Olympians Official PodcastStuff You Should Know