The Kids’ Choice Awards Expand Their Multiplatform Reach With a CBS Debut
Airing for the first time on CBS, Nickelodeon’s fan-powered celebration connects audiences across broadcast, cable, streaming and social.
November 11, 2026 | SKYDANCE TV
The Kids’ Choice Awards (KCAs) have always given kids the final say. This year, that voice is reaching a bigger audience.
On November 14, the KCAs will air on CBS for the first time, with a simulcast on Nickelodeon and streaming on Paramount+. The move brings the scale of broadcast to Nickelodeon’s biggest cultural tentpole, inviting a broader, multigenerational audience into a celebration that keeps kids firmly in charge.
“The Kids’ Choice Awards has always been one of the most beloved events in family entertainment, where kids, fandom and pop culture come together in a way only Nickelodeon can,” says Mike Benson, President and CMO, CBS.
The CBS debut invites parents who grew up watching celebrities get slimed to share the experience with kids casting votes for their current favorites. And the elements that make the KCAs distinctive stay intact: kids pick the winners, their tastes shape the show and even the biggest stars can end up covered in slime.
“This year, we’re bringing together everything that makes the KCAs special, from beloved franchises, top talent, creators and fan experiences, and pairing it with the expanded reach of CBS, Nickelodeon, Paramount+, and a robust social and digital campaign,” Benson says. “That gives us an incredible opportunity to deepen engagement with longtime fans while introducing the KCAs to new audiences across every platform.”
The combined reach also creates greater value for advertisers and partners, connecting them with an event that spans generations and viewing habits. This year’s sponsorship integrations are designed to engage kids and families watching together.
Burger King’s first-ever KCA partnership puts that idea into practice with skateboarder Tony Hawk and the KCA “Royal Council of Kids.” Hawk will take part in a challenge to determine which award he’ll present, and kids will vote live to decide what happens next. It marks the first time a partner has participated in a branded in-show challenge, connecting custom content, the broadcast and audience participation in a story that lets kids “rule the night.”
Spin Master, returning for its third consecutive year as an official KCA partner, is bringing its “Play Feels Good!” platform to the celebration through Kinetic Sand. Custom creative features content creator SeanDoesMagic and Kira Kosarin of Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans, with the KCA Blimp enveloped in green Kinetic Sand “slime.” Both will also appear during the show, connecting the campaign audiences see beforehand with a moment in the broadcast.
Wayfair and Volkswagen round out this year’s sponsor lineup. Together, the partnerships show how the KCAs can connect brands with families.
A Show That Starts Before Showtime
For the KCAs, the relationship with fans begins well before the broadcast. Voting puts audiences inside the event, giving them a role in deciding who takes home a Blimp.
This year’s ballot spans 36 categories across film, television, music, gaming, sports and more. That breadth offers multiple entry points: a favorite song, a series watched together or a creator kids follow. Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter are among the leading individual nominees, while new categories include Favorite On-Screen Duo/Trio and Favorite Clutch Player of the Year.
“From fan voting and creator partnerships to live events and premium content, we’re creating opportunities for audiences to connect with the KCAs at every touchpoint,” Benson says.
The Stars Join the Celebration
Multiplatinum, Grammy-nominated recording artist Alex Warren will host the live show from Television City in Los Angeles, where the stars, the surprises and, of course, the slime will take center stage. “With Alex Warren leading the celebration and an incredible lineup still to come, we’re building anticipation long before show night and making this year's KCAs bigger, more engaging and more unmissable than ever,” Benson adds.
Chris Pratt will also take the stage to receive the King of Comedy Award, recognizing his comedic work across film, television and animation. The honor comes with a Silver Blimp and a promised encounter with slime. “I’m incredibly honored to receive Nickelodeon’s King of Comedy Award,” he said. “Comedy has always been a huge part of my life, and making people laugh is one of my favorite things in the world. Especially kids. I’m grateful to Nickelodeon and CBS for this honor.”
The night’s soundtrack will include multiplatinum singer-songwriter Ashe, performing “Stop the Wedding!,” and Grammy-nominated electronic duo SOFI TUKKER will perform their fan-favorite dance anthem “TSUNAMI,” a song collaboration with Ryan Tedder. The performances add live music to a celebration that brings kids’ favorite artists, actors and creators together on one stage.
CBS Presents Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards airs live Saturday, November 14, from 8–9:30 p.m. ET / 5–6:30 p.m. PT on CBS and Nickelodeon. Voting is open at kidschoiceawards.com.
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From Extra:
Alex Warren Reveals Who He Wants to Slime at Kids’ Choice Awards! (Exclusive)
Alex Warren is only a day away from hosting the 2026 Kids’ Choice Awards.
“Extra” spoke with Alex, who revealed what he’s looking forward to most.
He said, “I know it’s a very obvious answer, but the slime, I’m so excited. They’ve given me full control over it this year and I have actually cranked everything up, so no one is safe.”
“We did testing yesterday and I had them, we did it a first round. I was like, ‘It has to be more,’ and they’re like, ‘We can’t do more,’” Warren added. “And we overclocked it. So, things might get a little crazy.”
Who is Alex most excited to slime?
He answered, “I’m hoping I can slime Matthew Gray Gubler right there. Like, I’m obsessed, obsessed with ‘Criminal Minds’ and so I’m hoping I can somehow point the hose just a little bit over there and get him.”
Warren shared a big spoiler, saying, “If I was to tease one thing, I'll be the first host to slime themselves.”
Hosting the Kids’ Choice Awards has been a “dream" for Alex. He shared, “Growing up, I would watch every single year and I was so obsessed with the idea that I even told Nickelodeon if they ever asked me, I would say yes no matter where I am in my career. And they asked me and I said yes.”
As for his first memory of watching the award show, Alex noted, “I remember watching it. I had watched every single award show. I was obsessed with the idea, and when I had seen how much fun it looked with the slime and also seeing Tony Hawk ripping around and… my hometown is where Tony’s from and so I always felt this inspiration behind that, so I always wanted to be a part of it.”
Alex also just announced more tour dates for his “Finding Family on the Road” tour and enlisted another celeb for a crazy video, Eric Stonestreet.
Warren commented, “I didn’t have a family growing up, so I always imagined I was in [‘Modern Family’] and it was really cool to kind of, you know, be able to work with one of my childhood heroes and he’s amazing... Working with him is amazing.”
While Alex has done several star-studded announcements with Kevin James and Jennifer Aniston, he wants Ryan Reynolds next!
“Extra” will have Juliano Valdez, who played young Michael Jackson in “Michael,” as our special correspondent on the red carpet for the KCAs.
Alex offered some advice for Valdez, saying, “I think it’s so easy to kind of hype yourself up and kind of get in your head and a lot of times I have something called stage fright and so I think it’s a natural thing that everyone has, and if I can have that hosting one of the biggest award shows in the world, then you should be fine.”
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Originally published: November 12, 2026.
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