The 2026 Kids’ Choice Awards are set for Saturday, November 14, with Grammy-nominated singer Alex Warren taking over hosting duties. The ceremony will air live from Los Angeles from 8 to 9:30 p.m. ET on both CBS and Nickelodeon, with streaming available on Paramount+.
For Warren, the hosting gig comes after a breakout period in music. “I am so excited to be hosting the Kids’ Choice Awards,” he said, calling the show a “bucket list moment” and promising plenty of slime.
Parents should note that the full celebrity guest and performance lineup has not yet been announced. With major nominees including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, BTS, Justin Bieber and Olivia Rodrigo, however, there will be plenty of familiar names potentially taking part.
Who Are the Biggest Kids’ Choice Awards Nominees?
Taylor Swift leads the 2026 nominations with six, while Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each received five. The awards span 36 categories, giving kids plenty of opportunities to vote for their favorite movies, shows, musicians, creators, athletes and more.
Movie contenders include Toy Story 5, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Wicked: For Good, KPop Demon Hunters, Zootopia 2 and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. On television, Wednesday, Stranger Things, Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Avatar: The Last Airbender are among the major contenders.
There are also three new categories this year: Watch Party: Kids’ Choice, Favorite On-Screen Duo/Trio and Favorite Clutch Player of the Year. Fan voting is open across all 36 categories, putting the final choices in the hands of young fans.
The History of the Kids’ Choice Awards
The Kids’ Choice Awards trace their roots to 1987, when Nickelodeon held an event called The Big Ballot. The first ceremony officially called the Kids’ Choice Awards followed in 1988, hosted by Tony Danza, Debbie Gibson, Brian Robbins and Dan Schneider.
Over the decades, the KCAs have become known for their playful format, celebrity appearances and, most famously, the iconic green slime. The awards have also expanded beyond television to celebrate movies, music, sports, gaming and online creators.
The 2026 ceremony marks another milestone because the KCAs will air on CBS for the first time, alongside Nickelodeon, while also streaming on Paramount+. For families who have watched the awards grow over generations, the combination of familiar stars, kid-powered voting and plenty of slime remains the show’s defining formula.
