Chelsea Handler’s busy start to 2026, onstage and on tour

TL;DR:

Handler hosted the Critics Choice Awards on January 4, 2026.
Her DiCaprio yacht quip and a 50 Cent zing went viral.
Benicio del Toro called her onstage flirting “pretty sexy,” per PEOPLE.
She defended Mandy Moore amid a mom-group dustup on Jan 7.
Her 2026 High and Mighty tour and Vegas dates are live.

Chelsea Handler opened 2026 in the spotlight. She hosted the Critics Choice Awards on January 4 in Santa Monica. The jokes landed, the cutaways rolled, and the internet did the rest.

This guide rounds up what happened, why it trended, and where to see her next. It also separates confirmed facts from rumors.

What happened at Critics Choice 2026

Handler set the tone with a brisk monologue. She promised a lighter touch before the show, telling E! News that some targets were off limits and that she would keep it fun at the Barker Hangar on January 4. Her plan matched the night’s vibe. The show moved, the bits kept coming, and she stayed present between wins. (E! News)

Two jokes drove the headlines.

First, the DiCaprio line. Handler teased Leonardo DiCaprio with a yacht joke. E! News reported his amused reaction in the room two days later. The clip circulated fast across social feeds. Fans read it as a gentle nod to his long-running tabloid image. (E! News)

Second, the 50 Cent barb. The Hollywood Reporter recapped a pointed one-liner aimed at her ex, 50 Cent, tied to a recent viral moment with Sean “Diddy” Combs’s son. The bit drew laughs in the hall and plenty of takes online. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Another moment built after the show. PEOPLE asked Benicio del Toro what he thought of her playful flirting from the stage. He called it funny and “pretty sexy.” That comment, published January 8, gave the ceremony a second wave of attention. (PEOPLE)

Gold Derby’s monologue notes add more color from the opening minutes, including her upbeat greeting and quick pacing. The recap helps anchor the show’s tone for readers who missed the live broadcast. (Gold Derby)

Offstage soundbites this week

Handler weighed in on a separate pop-culture story on January 7. On Page Six Radio, she defended Mandy Moore after Ashley Tisdale’s essay about a “toxic” celebrity mom group sparked headlines. Handler called Moore “wonderful” and said she avoids mom groups because the social politics feel “awful.” The segment kept her name in feeds between tour plugs. (Page Six)

Tour and residency: where to see her in 2026

Handler’s High and Mighty Tour continues through 2026. Her official site lists fresh dates, plus a Las Vegas residency at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan. TicketNews reported in September 2025 that she added 2026 Vegas shows on January 31, March 7, April 18, and May 30. Those align with current listings on her site.

Third-party calendars help fans plan. Songkick shows a run of U.S. dates, including Washington on February 13, Detroit on February 21, and more through spring. Regional sites echo the schedule. Visit Albuquerque lists an April 16 stop at Kiva Auditorium. TheaterMania spotlights the Washington date on February 13. Always confirm on the official site before you buy, since promoters can shift times and venues.

Quick tour planner

Date	City	Venue	Source to cross-check
Jan 31, 2026	Las Vegas, NV	The Chelsea, The Cosmopolitan	Official site, TicketNews
Feb 13, 2026	Washington, DC	DAR Constitution Hall	TheaterMania, Songkick
Feb 21, 2026	Detroit, MI	The Fillmore Detroit	Songkick
Apr 16, 2026	Albuquerque, NM	Kiva Auditorium	Visit Albuquerque
May 30, 2026	Las Vegas, NV	The Chelsea, The Cosmopolitan	TicketNews, official site

Times and added shows vary. Check the official site for the latest holds and on-sales.

Background, in brief

Handler is a comedian, author, and former late-night host. She has toured steadily with new material since 2023. In 2025 she made news for post-Oscars dating rumors with Ralph Fiennes, which she later addressed, and for saying on a March 4 podcast that she was seeing someone but did not consider herself a “relationship person.” The focus returned to work with the 2026 Critics Choice hosting slot, which gave her monologue a major platform. (E! News, Page Six, PEOPLE)

Why the Critics Choice slot mattered

Hosting a major awards show boosts a comic’s draw in the near term. It puts jokes in front of millions and floods social channels with clips. For touring comics, that can move tickets in soft markets and justify extra late-adds in strong ones. It also sets a frame for new material. Fans who enjoyed the monologue want more of that tone in the live show.

What to watch next

Added residency dates. If early 2026 Vegas nights sell through, expect summer adds.
TV and streaming specials. Big tour runs often end in a new special taping window.
More podcast moments. Her interviews often spark viral pull quotes.

Checklist: what is confirmed

Hosted Critics Choice on January 4, 2026.
DiCaprio yacht joke and 50 Cent barb aired and trended.
Benicio del Toro reacted on January 8 in a PEOPLE interview.
High and Mighty Tour continues with U.S. dates and Las Vegas shows.
New York or international dates are not posted on the official site as of today.

Reader guide: smart ways to follow

For clips, check the show’s official channels and E! recaps.
For tickets, start with ChelseaHandler.com, then verify on venue sites.
For added nights, set calendar alerts for Las Vegas holds.

Why it matters

Handler is in a heat cycle. A clean awards-show outing gives her fresh reach. The viral jokes keep her in daily feeds. The tour gives fans a quick way to act. For a stand-up, timing is everything. January buzz can turn into sold seats by spring..