Get ready for the cinematic event of the year—the 2026 Oscar nominations are almost here, and the excitement is palpable! But here's where it gets controversial: with a stacked lineup of films vying for Best Picture, this year’s race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. Will any film break the record for most nominations, held by classics like All About Eve and La La Land? Only time will tell.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, January 22, when the countdown officially begins. Starting at 5:30 a.m. PT, Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman will reveal the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards. You can catch the live stream on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, and the Academy’s social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. For those who prefer traditional TV, the announcement will also air on ABC’s Good Morning America, with ABC News Live available on Disney+ and Hulu.
And this is the part most people miss: this year’s Oscars introduce a brand-new category—Best Casting—bringing the total number of awards to 24. While Best Picture remains capped at 10 nominees, the expanded slate promises even more opportunities for recognition across the industry.
In the Best Picture race, Variety’s senior awards editor Clayton Davis predicts a diverse and fiercely competitive field, including Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams. Two films, in particular, are generating buzz: Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. Both are expected to dominate the nominations, potentially challenging the long-standing record of 14 nods.
The acting categories are equally thrilling. On the Best Actor front, Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) and Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another) are locked in a high-stakes battle, with Chalamet riding the momentum of his recent Golden Globe win. Joining them are Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
For Best Actress, Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Emma Stone (Bugonia) are all strong contenders. But here’s a thought-provoking question: With such a talented lineup, who will emerge as the frontrunner?
Hosting duties once again fall to Conan O’Brien, whose 2025 debut drew the largest Oscar audience in five years. The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre, airing live on ABC and streaming on Hulu. Will this year’s ceremony break records, spark debates, or redefine cinematic excellence? One thing’s for sure—you won’t want to miss it. What’s your prediction for the big night? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
