The Critics Choice Association announced today that submissions are now OPEN for the inaugural Critics Choice Creator Awards at creatorsubmissions.criticschoice.com.
EARLY ENTRY pricing is in effect until November 16. CCA members are entitled to a 10% discount on early entries.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) will honor the finest creators in the digital space across podcasts, scripted and unscripted series, documentary and informational shows, lifestyle content, game shows and sports series at the Critics Choice Creator Awards.
CCA members may enter any category provided they meet its eligibility requirements. To avoid potential conflicts of interest or any appearance of impropriety, members cannot serve on Nominating Committees for any category in which they are directly involved with a submission. Nominating Committees will be formed in December.
“As the world of entertainment evolves and migrates onto social media and streaming platforms, and new digital and vertical formats command an increasing share of the entertainment space, it is the job of cultural curators to move with them,” said CCA CEO Joey Berlin. “We are dedicated to helping entertainment consumers ‘find the good stuff’ as well as helping the best creators get found – and appreciated. To continue our longstanding mission of serving audiences and the creative community, we can’’t wait to launch the Critics Choice Creator Awards.”
The full list of Creator Awards categories can be found below. Submitted work must have been first made publicly available to its intended audience at any time between January 1 and December 31, 2026. Nominations will be announced on Thursday, March 4, 2027, and winners will be revealed at the inaugural Creator Awards gala in April. Additional details about the awards ceremony – to be produced by Bob Bain Productions – will be announced soon.
Category guidelines and eligibility requirements have been developed by CCA in collaboration with the Creators Guild of America (CGA), which will certify the qualifications of applicable nominees and winners. Nominating Committees made up of qualified CCA members, including members of its new Creator Awards branch, will select Creator Awards nominees. Winners will be selected from among the nominees by the CCA voting membership.
Membership in the CCA’s new Creator Awards branch is open to members currently covering the world of content creation and the creator economy. Branch application information is available at: criticschoice.com/membership-requirements.
The Critics Choice Creator Awards joins CCA’s robust slate of programming which already includes the esteemed Critics Choice Awards, 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, Celebración of Cinema and Television, Celebration of AAPI Cinema and Television, and Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema and Television.
For up-to-date information about the Critics Choice Creator Awards, please visit: criticschoice.com/creator-awards.
For submissions questions or assistance, please contact David Freedman at dfreedman@criticschoice.com.
For FYC digital campaign opportunities, please contact Kymber Allen at kymber@criticschoice.com.
Critics Choice Creator Awards Timeline:
Monday, October 19, 2026 – Early Submissions Open
Monday, November 16, 2026 – Early Submissions Close
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 – Regular Submissions Open
Monday, February 1, 2027 – Regular Submissions Close
Tuesday, February 2 – Friday, February 26, 2027 – NomCom Deliberations
Thursday, March 4, 2027 – Nominees Announced
Winners will be announced at the inaugural Critics Choice Creator Awards gala in April.
Critics Choice Creator Awards Categories:
General Awards
Best Creator of the Year
Best Live Streaming Creator
Best Video Edit
Best Viral Video
Best Special Effects
Podcast
Best Audio Podcast – Talk
Best Audio Podcast – Narrative Nonfiction
Best Audio Podcast – Audio Drama
Best Video Podcast
Best Podcast Host
Genre Awards
Best Comedy Creator
Best Drama Creator
Best Storyteller
Best News Reporter
Scripted Series
Best Comedy Series: Short Form (Under 3 Minutes)
Best Comedy Series: Long Form (3+ Minutes)
Best Micro-Drama Series: Short Form (Under 3 Minutes)
Best Micro-Drama Series: Long Form (3+ Minutes)
Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Best Actor in a Micro-Drama Series
Best Actress in a Micro-Drama Series
Unscripted & Reality
Best Competition Series
Best Competition Series: Talent/Variety
Best Structured Series
Best Series Host
Documentary & Informational
Best Documentary Series
Best Documentary Creator
Best Educational Series
Best Educational Creator
Best Business Series
Best Business Creator
Best Crime/Justice Series
Best Crime/Justice Creator
Best Animal/Nature Series
Best Animal/Nature Creator
Best Health/Wellness Series
Best Health/Wellness Creator
Lifestyle & Interest
Best Food & Drink Series
Best Food & Drink Creator
Best Travel/Adventure Series
Best Travel/Adventure Creator
Best Relationship Series
Best Relationship Series Creator
Best Lifestyle Series: Home/Garden
Best Lifestyle Creator: Home/Garden
Best Lifestyle Series: Fashion/Beauty
Best Lifestyle Creator: Fashion/Beauty
Best Pop Culture Series
Best Pop Culture Creator
Games
Best Game Show
Best Game Show Creator
Sports
Best Sports Series
Best Sports Show: Talk/Analysis
About the Critics Choice Association
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.
About the Creators Guild of America
The Creators Guild of America (CGA) is the nonprofit 501(c)(6) trade association for digital content creators, launched in 2023 to set professional standards and advance creators’ rights and interests. CGA has established the eligibility and accreditation standards for professional creators. Its technology infrastructure, Mosaic, is the verified record of creator work, where creators carry CGA Verification, confirmed Credits, and Certifications. CGA also publishes the CGA Rider, the industry’s standard contract addendum for creator deals, securing payment, credit, likeness, and AI protections, and advocates for creators within the industry and at the state and federal levels. Its sister organization, the Creators Guild of America Foundation, is a separate 501(c)(3) public charity that funds education and recognition for creators and the future of work. CGA is led by a Board of Directors, Chairs, and an Advisory Council composed of leading creators alongside entertainment, technology, and media executives. Connect with CGA on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.
CONTACTS:
For more information on the Critics Choice Creator Awards, please contact:
creatorawards@criticschoice.com
For press inquiries, please contact APEX Public Relations:
Andy Gelb / Julia Rossen
310-461-0111
andy@theapex-pr.com / julia@theapex-pr.com / CCA@theapex-pr.com