2026 Oscar Nominations: Full List, New Categories & Frontrunners

The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards — honoring the best films of 2025 — were revealed on Thursday, January 22, 2026, in a live announcement hosted by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles.

This year’s nominees span 24 categories, with 10 films nominated for Best Picture — an expanded slate that reflects Hollywood’s broad range of accomplishments. The ceremony itself will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, and will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu. Conan O’Brien returns as host for the second consecutive year.

What’s New in Oscars 2026

For the first time in more than two decades, the Oscars introduced a brand-new competitive category: Best Casting — designed to celebrate the artistry of casting directors who assemble the standout ensembles seen on screen this awards season.

This year also marks a period of evolving rules and categories, with award categories continuing to reflect shifts in how the Academy evaluates and celebrates cinema. The event remains tied to traditional categories like Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Picture, alongside technical and short film awards.

Major Frontrunners and Nomination Buzz

While the official list of nominees is being updated live, several films have already emerged as major contenders:

• One Battle After Another — A dramatic film expected to lead nominations, including Best Picture and directing nods, with actors like Leonardo DiCaprio in the mix.
• Sinners — Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror has captured critical attention and could make history with multiple nominations; Michael B. Jordan is likely in the Best Actor conversation.
• Hamnet — A historical drama widely tipped for nominations across acting, writing, and technical categories.
• Marty Supreme — Another strong contender with high acting buzz, particularly for Best Actor.

Other anticipated nominees this year include Sentimental Value, Frankenstein, Bugonia, Train Dreams, and Wicked: For Good. These films have appeared frequently in critics’ award shortlists and predictions heading into the official announcements.

According to industry shortlists and prediction trackers, top performers in major categories include Timothée Chalamet (for Marty Supreme), Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), and actors like Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent), among others.

Other Award Categories

Beyond the headline acting and Best Picture races, the Oscars cover a wide array of creative and technical achievements — from Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay to Best Animated Feature, Best International Feature, Best Production Design, and Best Visual Effects.

This year also maintains categories for Best Documentary Feature, Best Live-Action Short Film, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, showcasing the depth of storytelling and technical craft across global cinema.

Full List of Oscar Nominations

Best Picture

Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams

Best Actor

Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

Best Actress

Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Emma Stone – Bugonia

Best Supporting Actor

Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo – Sinners
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value

Best Supporting Actress

Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan – Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

Best Original Screenplay

Blue Moon
It Was Just an Accident
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value
Sinners

Best Adapted Screenplay

Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
One Battle After Another
Train Dreams

Best Cinematography

Frankenstein
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Train Dreams

Best Editing

F1
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
Sentimental Value
Sinners

Best Original Score

Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
One Battle After Another
Sinners

Best Sound

F1
Frankenstein
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Sirat

Best Visual Effects

Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Jurassic World: Rebirth
The Lost Bus
Sinners

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Frankenstein
Kokuho
Sinners
The Smashing Machine
The Ugly Stepsister

Best Animated Short Film

Butterfly
Forevergreen
The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Retirement Plan
The Three Sisters

Best Live-Action Short Film

Butcher’s Stain
A Friend of Dorothy
Jane Austen’s Period Drama
The Singers
Two People Exchanging Saliva

How the Oscars Nominations Were Determined

The nominations reflect the outcomes of months of voting by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which oversees the Oscars process. Academy members vote within their respective branches — actors nominate actors, directors nominate directors, and so on — and all members cast ballots for Best Picture.

For the 2026 Oscars, the Academy also reinforced guidelines requiring members to watch every nominated film in a category before voting in the final round — a measure aimed at ensuring informed voting.

Leading Up to the Ceremony

The Oscars season has been one of the most competitive in recent years, with strong showings from both commercial hits and artistic favorites alike. Critics and awards trackers have pointed to this year’s slate as one of the most varied in memory, spanning genres from horror and historical drama to sweeping ensemble pieces.

In the run-up to the nomination announcement, films like One Battle After Another and Sinners dominated predictions, while standout performances from actors such as Jessie Buckley and Timothée Chalamet fueled discussion on potential historic nominations.

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