The kids choice awards host for 2026 is Alex Warren, the Grammy-nominated singer behind the chart-topping hit “Ordinary.” He takes the stage at Television City in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 14, 2026, for the 39th annual ceremony. This is the first time the show airs live on both CBS and Nickelodeon.
Here is what viewers should know about the host, the lineup, the nominees and how to watch.
Who Is the Kids Choice Awards Host This Year?
Nickelodeon and CBS named Warren as host on October 8, 2026, the same day they revealed the nominees. The show is officially titled CBS Presents Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. It is Warren’s first time hosting the event.
The 26-year-old singer-songwriter turned “Ordinary” into one of the biggest songs of 2025. It held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks, according to Deadline. His debut album, You’ll Be Alright, Kid, arrived on July 18, 2025, and he followed it with a second album, Wildchild, in 2026.
Warren also earned his first Grammy nomination, and he has a growing television résumé. He appeared earlier in 2026 as an advisor on Adam Levine’s team on The Voice. He also presented at the 2025 Kids’ Choice Awards, so the orange carpet is familiar territory.
What Time Do the Kids Choice Awards Start?
The ceremony airs live from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET, which is 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. PT. Here is the schedule by time zone:
| Time Zone | Start | Scheduled End |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 8:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. |
| Central | 7:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. |
| Mountain | 6:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
| Pacific | 5:00 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. |
Live shows can run long, so add a few extra minutes to your DVR. The early evening slot on the West Coast also makes it easier for younger viewers to stay up for the full show.
How to Watch the Kids Choice Awards on CBS, Nickelodeon and Paramount+
The show airs on both CBS and Nickelodeon. Viewers without cable can pick up CBS with a digital antenna or a live TV streaming service that carries either channel in their market.
Paramount+ also has options, according to the official Paramount+ viewing guide. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can stream the show live through their local CBS feed. Subscribers can also watch on demand starting Sunday, November 15. Nickelodeon’s YouTube channel is expected to carry an Orange Carpet livestream before the main event, reportedly hosted by Owen Holt.
The network premiere of Minions: The Rise of Gru leads into the ceremony, according to published reports.
Why This Year’s Show Is Different
The 2026 edition breaks several habits. The Kids’ Choice Awards usually land in late March or early April, and recent years moved to summer. The 2025 show aired on June 21, 2025, with Tyla as host. This year’s November 14 date is only the second time the show has aired in November. The first was in 1992.
The ceremony also moves to Television City, a historic Los Angeles studio property. Past shows took place at venues such as the Barker Hangar, the Microsoft Theater, USC’s Galen Center and The Forum. The CBS simulcast is the biggest change. It gives the show a broadcast network audience for the first time in its history.
Who Is Performing at the 2026 Kids Choice Awards?
The musical lineup is small by design, and the network has announced three acts:
- Jamie Miller opens the show with the U.S. television debut of “Babydoll,” with dancers and a cameo by JYT.
- Ashe performs her hit “Stop the Wedding.”
- Sofi Tukker performs “Tsunami,” their collaboration with Ryan Tedder.
Expect appearances from Ice Spice, Keke Palmer, Quinta Brunson, Teyana Taylor, Tony Hawk, Howie Mandel, Ginnifer Goodwin and Matthew Gray Gubler, among others. Nickelodeon has not published the order of awards or slime moments.
Chris Pratt Receives the King of Comedy Award
Chris Pratt is this year’s special honoree. He will receive the King of Comedy Award and its Silver Blimp, then face the traditional slime. He is only the third person to get the honor, following Adam Sandler in 2023 and Jack Black in 2025.
Pratt is also nominated for Favorite Male Animated Voice from a Movie for playing Mario in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Fans who want more on his television work can read about Chris Pratt’s return in The Terminal List.
Top Nominees for the 2026 Kids Choice Awards
Voters picked from 36 categories across movies, television, music, gaming, sports and digital creators. Voting closed on Friday, November 13, so winners are not known until the broadcast. The full nominee list is on the official Kids’ Choice Awards website.
Key nomination numbers:
- Taylor Swift leads all individual nominees with six nominations, including Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Album.
- Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter each have five.
- Stranger Things leads the TV field with seven nominations.
- Justin Bieber is up for Favorite Male Artist, and Travis Kelce is nominated for Favorite Male Sports Star and Favorite Podcast.
Three categories are new this year: Watch Party: Kids’ Choice, Favorite On-Screen Duo/Trio and Favorite Clutch Player of the Year.
Past Kids Choice Awards Hosts
Warren joins a long list of music and screen stars who have hosted. The details of the announcement are in Deadline’s report on the 2026 host.
- Rosie O’Donnell holds the record with eight straight hosting turns from 1996 to 2003.
- Jack Black has hosted several times, including in 2006, 2008 and 2011.
- Justin Timberlake hosted on March 31, 2007, and Will Smith on March 31, 2012.
- Nick Jonas hosted on March 28, 2015, and John Cena on March 11, 2017.
- DJ Khaled hosted on March 23, 2019, and Kenan Thompson on March 13, 2021.
- Miranda Cosgrove and Rob Gronkowski co-hosted on April 9, 2022.
- Nate Burleson and Charli D’Amelio co-hosted on March 4, 2023.
- Tyla hosted on June 21, 2025.
Whitney Houston also hosted in the show’s early years.
What to Expect From the Show
Viewers can count on the usual mix of celebrity guests, fan-voted prizes and green slime. Warren has already been slimed at past Kids’ Choice Awards, so he knows what the night involves. His pop background should also fit a show built around music, creators and big personalities.
The ceremony is built for families. The earlier start time and the CBS simulcast should help it reach viewers beyond Nickelodeon’s usual audience. Winners remain unconfirmed until they are announced on air.
If You Miss the Broadcast
The ceremony is available on demand on Paramount+ starting Sunday, November 15, according to the service’s viewing guide. Fans who want a quick refresher on the schedule can check this what time the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards start guide.
Nickelodeon’s own announcement materials on Paramount Press Express list the performers and honorees if schedules change.
Do you think Alex Warren is the right pick to host the Kids’ Choice Awards? Tell us who you want to win an Orange Blimp in the comments and share your slime predictions!