(Los Angeles, CA – July 7, 2026) The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced that submissions are now open for the 11th annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards. Winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony on Sunday, November 8, 2026 in New York. The full timeline can be found below.
Eligible documentary films and series may be submitted here:
https://www.criticschoicesubmissions.com
11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards Timeline:
Submissions Open: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Submissions Close: Friday, September 18, 2026
NomComs Voting Window: Monday, September 28 – Friday, October 9, 2026
Nominations Announced: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Final Voting Window: Wednesday, October 14 – Friday, November 6, 2026
11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards: Sunday, November 8, 2026
Feature-length documentaries, two-part documentaries, and short-form documentaries are eligible for nomination if first released commercially in the U.S. between January 1 and December 31, 2026. Documentaries may be delivered to audiences theatrically or by broadcast, cable, or streaming. Documentary series of three episodes or more are eligible for nomination if a majority of the episodes of the series’ eligible season have been released between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026.
Award Categories for the 11th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards will include:
- Best Documentary Feature – Feature-length or two-part nonfiction films with contained narratives and/or reporting.
- Best Director – Directing of nonfiction features, two-part documentaries, nonfiction shorts, or documentary series.
- Best First Documentary Feature – Nonfiction films in which the director or directors make their feature-length debut.
- Best True Crime Documentary – Nonfiction features, two-part documentaries, nonfiction shorts, or documentary series that involve an investigation and/or chronicle of criminal activity and criminal allegations.
- Best Sports Documentary – Nonfiction features, two-part documentaries, nonfiction shorts, or documentary series about sporting events, athletes, and/or sportscasters.
- Best Political Documentary – Nonfiction features, two-part documentaries, nonfiction shorts, or documentary series focused on political subjects, including political issues, social issues, and persons involved in politics.
- Best Music Documentary – Nonfiction features, two-part documentaries, nonfiction shorts, or documentary series involving music performers, musical performances, or the music industry.
- Best Archival Documentary – Nonfiction features, two-part documentaries, nonfiction shorts, or documentary series in which most of the visual material is from previously shot footage produced for other use.
- Best Science/Nature Documentary – Nonfiction features, two-part documentaries, nonfiction shorts, or documentary series focused on science-related subjects, including technology, wildlife, nature, environmental issues, and histories of scientific innovation.
- Best Historical Documentary – Nonfiction features, two-part documentaries, nonfiction shorts, or documentary series chronicling the history of their subject.
- Best Biographical Documentary – Nonfiction features, two-part documentaries, nonfiction shorts, or documentary series chronicling the life story of their subject.
- Best Ongoing Documentary Series – Documentary series with more than one season. Episodes of the series can cover different topics.
- Best Limited Documentary Series – Documentary series with a single season or grouping of episodes with a unified story, overall show arc, or collective premise. Episodes of the series can cover different topics.
- Best Cinematography – Cinematography in a nonfiction feature, two-part documentary, nonfiction short, or documentary series.
- Best Editing – Editing of a nonfiction feature, two-part documentary, nonfiction short, or documentary series.
- Best Music Score – Original music scores composed for a nonfiction feature, two-part documentary, nonfiction short, or documentary series.
- Best Narration – Writing and performing of voiceover narration for a nonfiction feature, two-part documentary, nonfiction short, or documentary series.
- Best Short Documentary – Nonfiction films with a running time of 40 minutes or less.
The Critics Choice Documentary Awards are bestowed annually by the CCA to honor the finest in cinematic and televised/streaming achievement. Historically, the Critics Choice Awards are the most accurate predictor of Academy Award nominations.
Social Media:
Hashtag: #criticschoice
Facebook: facebook.com/CriticsChoiceAwards
Instagram: @criticschoice
X: @criticschoice
TikTok: @OfficialCriticsChoice
ABOUT THE CRITICS CHOICE ASSOCIATION (CCA)
Founded in 1995, the Critics Choice Association (CCA) is one of the largest critics organizations in the world, representing more than 500 media critics and entertainment journalists. It is known for presenting the annual Critics Choice Awards, honoring the finest in cinematic and television achievement for over three decades.
With a commitment to recognizing industry creatives and professionals across genres, CCA has expanded its slate of events over the years to include the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, Critics Choice Real TV Awards, and Critics Choice Super Awards. The CCA also produces a series of Celebration events to recognize historically underrepresented communities, including the Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, Celebration of Latino Cinema and Television, Celebration of AAPI Cinema and Television, and Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema and Television.
For more information, visit www.CriticsChoice.com and follow along on Instagram and X @CriticsChoice, on TikTok @OfficialCriticsChoice, and on Facebook/CriticsChoiceAwards.
CONTACTS:
For submission questions, please contact David Freedman at [email protected].
For FYC digital campaign opportunities, please contact Kymber Allen at [email protected].
For press inquiries, please contact:
Andy Gelb / Julia Rossen
APEX Public Relations
310-461-0111
[email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]
