With the 98th Academy Awards approaching, excitement around the Oscar 2026 nominations has begun to gather momentum. After a year packed with ambitious storytelling, big-budget spectacles, and thoughtfully crafted independent films, the awards season conversation is already taking shape.
The 2025 film slate delivered a diverse mix — from emotionally driven dramas to bold cinematic experiments — making the competition for Hollywood’s most prestigious honour especially intense this year. As anticipation grows, several titles have emerged as early favourites in the race for Best Picture recognition.
Best Picture – Early Contenders
- Bugonia
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Train Dreams
The Best Picture category remains the most closely watched and fiercely contested at the Oscars. This year’s frontrunners reflect a wide creative range, spanning historical narratives, literary adaptations, genre-bending projects, and star-driven productions. Many of these films have already drawn critical praise and strong audience interest, positioning them as serious awards-season players.
Best Director
- Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
- Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
- Ryan Coogler – Sinners
- Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
- Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
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 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 Supporting Actress
- Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
- Amy Madigan – Weapons
- Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
- Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another
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
📽️ Other Key Categories
Best International Feature Film
- It Was Just an Accident (France)
- The Secret Agent (Brazil)
- Sentimental Value (Norway)
- Sirât (Spain)
- The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)
Best Animated Feature
- Arco
- Elio
- KPop: Demon Hunters
- Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
- Zootopia 2
Best Original Song
- “Dear Me” (Diane Warren: Relentless)
- “Golden” (KPop Demon Hunters)
- “I Lied to You” (Sinners)
- “Sweet Dreams of Joy” (Viva Verdi!)
- “Train Dreams” (Train Dreams)
Best Visual Effects
- Avatar: Fire and Ash
- F1
- Jurassic World Rebirth
- The Lost Bus
- Sinners
These nominations come as part of 24 competitive categories announced on January 22, 2026. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with comedian Conan O’Brien returning as host.
🎥 Highlights from This Year’s Nominations
- Sinners leads the field with an unprecedented record 16 nominations, more than any film in Oscar history.
- One Battle After Another follows closely with double-digit nods.
- A rich mix of international and animated features shows the Academy’s broadening recognition of global cinema.
Disclaimer
This content is an original adaptation prepared for StorifyNews.com using publicly reported Oscar 2026 nominee data. It is intended for informational purposes only. Storify News does not claim direct affiliation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unless explicitly stated.
