Erivo made history as the first Black woman to be nominated twice at the Globes in the Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy category.

Why Cynthia Erivo isn’t at 2026 Golden Globes as Wicked: For Good Best Actress nominee

Erivo made history as the first Black woman to be nominated twice at the Globes in the Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy category.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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January 11, 2026 7:24 p.m. ET

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Cynthia Erivo at the Academy Museum Gala at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Oct. 19, 2024 in Los Angeles. Credit:

Amy Sussman/Getty

Everyone deserves a chance to fly, *Wicked *taught us. Even if it's away from awards history.

Cynthia Erivo set a record in December by becoming the first Black woman to be nominated twice in the Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy category at the Golden Globes, after receiving a nod for her performance in *Wicked: For Good*. But Erivo is in it for the glory, not the fame, and will be missing out on the big show.

Erivo is expected to skip the 2026 Golden Globe Awards red carpet and ceremony, held in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, due to a prior commitment to a new production of *Dracula *on London's West End, per *Variety*. The native Londoner will be portraying 23 different characters — including the bloodsucking Count — in Kip Williams' unusual adaptation of the classic novel of Gothic suspense by Bram Stoker.

Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in 'Wicked: For Good'.

Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Erivo got her start on stage turning an eye-catching performances in productions of the musical *Marine Parade *and June Jordan's *I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky*. She took on the role of Celie in *The Color Purple *on the West End in 2013, which eventually brought her to Broadway for a revival in 2015. That run won her an Emmy, a Tony, and a Grammy, turning her into a superstar.

But aside from a few brief stints, she's been absent from the stage since the mid-2010s, as she's taken on larger and larger roles in film and television.

Erivo opened up about her nervous anticipation of the ambitious *Dracula *adaptation in a December interview with *Wonderland*. "It feels really full circle. I haven't been back to stage for such a long time," she said. "And I'm f---ing petrified. I really am. I’m very scared. But I'm also like - I don't know, is this sadistic of me - but I'm really excited about it as well. It’s absolutely nonsensical and insane, and I kept trying to resist it for the longest time."**

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Ariana Grande attends the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 11, 2026.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Erivo's is far from the only nomination the Golden Globes bestowed upon *Wicked: For Good*. The high-flying sequel to 2024's box office sensation earned five nominations in total — far fewer than many awards prognosticators had anticipated — but with both Erivo and her costar, Ariana Grande, in contention in acting categories. Grande was in attendance at Sunday's ceremony.

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Competing as lead to Grande's supporting, Erivo faces tough competition. Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Chase Infiniti, Amanda Seyfried, and awards juggernaut Emma Stone will also vie for the gold.

If last year's yield for *Wicked *is any indication, Erivo and Grande may not be at the front of their respective packs. If Erivo does win, it will be the first Golden Globe of her career.

The 2026 Golden Globes ceremony airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+. See the full list of winners.**

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