Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song

United States • Los AngelesFounded 1962

An annual film award presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association since 1962. Awards songwriters of the best original song written specifically for a motion picture. The category became permanent in 1965. The 2026 winner was "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters.

Details

Organizing Body

Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA)

Type

Industry Awards

Frequency

Annual (January ceremony)

Processes

Nomination Process

Songs must be written specifically for a motion picture eligible for Golden Globe consideration. The film must have a theatrical release. The HFPA's voting body selects nominees from eligible submissions. Performers are not credited unless they also have a writing credit.

Voting Process

The HFPA's voting membership selects nominees and the winner. The organization has approximately 100 voting members, all international journalists based in Los Angeles.

The Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song is an annual film award presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) since 1962. It awards the songwriters of a song written specifically for a motion picture. The award is best suited for songwriters and composers working in film, as it recognizes original music created for cinema. The 2026 winner was "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters, making EJAE the first Korean-American to receive a Golden Globe.

Submission and Eligibility Details

The award was first presented in 1962 at the 19th Golden Globe Awards. "Town Without Pity" from the film of the same name won the inaugural prize. The category was not awarded in 1963 or 1964 but became permanent from 1965 onward. Key eligibility details:

Only songs written specifically for a film qualify
The film must have a theatrical release to be eligible for Golden Globe consideration
The HFPA's approximately 100 voting members (international journalists based in Los Angeles) select nominees and the winner
Performers are not credited unless they also have a writing credit
The ceremony takes place in January, typically weeks before the Academy Awards

The 2026 Golden Globe Awards ceremony honored "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters. The song's writers (EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Park Hong Jun) won in a field that included "Dream as One" from Avatar: Fire and Ash (Miley Cyrus, Andrew Wyatt, Mark Ronson, Simon Franglen), "I Lied to You" from Sinners (Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Goransson), "No Place Like Home" from Wicked: For Good (Stephen Schwartz), "The Girl in the Bubble" from Wicked: For Good (Stephen Schwartz), and "Train Dreams" from Train Dreams (Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner).

Past winners include "Strangers in the Night," "The Way We Were," "Fame," "Flashdance... What a Feeling," "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic (1997), "Beauty and the Beast," and "City of Stars" from La La Land (2016). Over 60 winners have been produced in this category since 1962.

Key Benefits for Artists

Awards season timing: The Golden Globes ceremony airs in January, before the Oscars. This makes the Golden Globe winner a strong predictor of the Oscar winner and gives artists early awards season visibility.
International voting body: The HFPA's membership of international journalists means the award carries weight outside the US, unlike some domestically focused awards.
Media exposure: Winning a Golden Globe provides media exposure during awards season when film music gets maximum attention. The ceremony is broadcast live.
Oscar campaigning leverage: The January ceremony timing allows artists to leverage Golden Globe wins for Oscar campaigning. Sixteen songs have won the "triple crown" of Oscar, Golden Globe, and Grammy for film music.
Independent film eligibility: Independent filmmakers who qualify for Golden Globe consideration can have their songs nominated alongside major studio productions.

Potential Drawbacks and Things to Consider

Small voting body: The HFPA's approximately 100 voting members means a few voters can swing results. This is a much smaller group than the Academy's 10,000+ members.
Theatrical release requirement: The film must have a theatrical release to qualify. Streaming-only films may face eligibility challenges.
Campaign costs: Awards season campaign costs can be substantial. Independent artists without studio backing face disadvantages.
HFPA controversy: The HFPA has faced controversy regarding its membership and practices in recent years, affecting the award's prestige. The organization has undergone reforms.
Second to the Oscar: The Golden Globe does not carry the same global recognition as the Academy Award, though it is a strong precursor.
Film requirement only: Only songs written specifically for a film qualify. Pre-existing songs licensed for film use are not eligible.