Oscar Nominations 2026 Announced: ‘Sinners’ Leads Full 98th Academy Awards Nominee List; When and Where to Watch

The Oscar Nominations 2026 have officially been announced, marking a landmark moment for the global film industry and setting the tone for the upcoming 98th Academy Awards. This year’s nominations highlight a fiercely competitive field shaped by bold storytelling, strong performances, and shifting industry dynamics.

Leading the race is Sinners, a Warner Bros. production that made history by earning a record-breaking 16 nominations. Close behind is One Battle After Another, which secured 13 nods and established itself as one of the most discussed films of the season.

The nominations were revealed during an early-morning presentation in Los Angeles, offering the first clear picture of how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is recognizing cinematic excellence from the past year. From major studio dominance to international recognition and the introduction of a brand-new category, the Oscar Nominations 2026 reflect both tradition and change within Hollywood.

Key Highlights of Oscar Nominations 2026 and Major Takeaways

• Sinners becomes the most-nominated film in Oscar history with 16 nominations, surpassing the previous record of 14 held by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land.
  
• One Battle After Another follows closely with 13 nominations, cementing its awards-season strength despite mixed box-office results.
  
• Warner Bros. leads all studios with 30 total nominations, marking a dramatic turnaround after a challenging year.
  
• Netflix earns 18 nominations, driven largely by Frankenstein and Train Dreams.
  
• The Academy introduces Best Casting for the first time, expanding the Oscars to 24 categories.
  
• The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15, airing on ABC and streaming on Hulu.
  

‘Sinners’ Sets a New Oscar Record With 16 Nominations

The biggest story of the Oscar Nominations 2026 is the historic performance of Sinners. The film’s 16 nominations span major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, acting categories, screenplay, and a wide range of technical honors. This achievement places Sinners ahead of some of the most iconic films in Oscar history and underscores its impact on both audiences and critics.

For Warner Bros., the success of Sinners represents a remarkable reversal of fortune. The studio entered the year facing scrutiny after high-profile box-office disappointments and internal uncertainty. Instead, Sinners emerged as both a commercial success and an awards powerhouse, reaffirming the value of ambitious, risk-taking filmmaking.

Best Picture Nominees at the 98th Academy Awards

The Best Picture category once again features ten nominees, reflecting a broad mix of genres, styles, and production scales:

The inclusion of F1, an action-driven film set in the world of motorsports, stands out as one of the year’s biggest surprises. Meanwhile, international and independent titles such as Sentimental Value and The Secret Agent highlight the Academy’s continued emphasis on global storytelling.

Best Director Race Reflects Creative Range

The Best Director nominees showcase a diverse group of filmmakers whose work defined the year:

• Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
  
• Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
  
• Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
  
• Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
  
• Ryan Coogler – Sinners
  

This lineup balances established auteurs with distinctive creative voices, reinforcing the Academy’s focus on artistic vision alongside technical excellence.

Acting Categories Highlight Standout Performances

Best Actor Nominees

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

Best Actress Nominees

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

The acting races are among the most closely watched this year, featuring both seasoned Oscar winners and performers earning recognition for deeply emotional and challenging roles.

Supporting Categories and Ensemble Recognition

The supporting acting categories further underline the depth of talent across this year’s nominees.

Best Supporting Actor contenders include Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn for One Battle After Another, Delroy Lindo for Sinners, Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein, and Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value.

Best Supporting Actress nominees feature dual recognition for Sentimental Value performers Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, alongside Amy Madigan (Weapons), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another).

Best Casting Category Makes Oscar History

For the first time, the Academy has introduced Best Casting, officially recognizing the work of casting directors. The inaugural nominees are Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, and Sinners.

Also Read: Critics Choice Awards 2026 Full Winners List: One Battle After Another, Adolescence Shine

The new category expands the Oscars to 24 awards and reflects a broader understanding of the collaborative process behind successful filmmaking.

Technical Categories Showcase Craft and Innovation

Across cinematography, film editing, production design, sound, visual effects, makeup, and costume design, films such as Frankenstein, Sinners, F1, and Hamnet appear repeatedly. Their strong presence in technical categories highlights the craftsmanship and innovation that shaped the cinematic year.

When and Where to Watch the 98th Academy Awards

The Oscar nominations were announced during a live presentation from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater, hosted by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman. The event was streamed across Oscar.com, Oscars.org, and the Academy’s official social media platforms, while also airing on ABC’s Good Morning America and streaming on ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu.

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 15, with Conan O’Brien returning as host for the second consecutive year. The event will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Final Academy voting will take place between February 26 and March 5.

A Pivotal Oscars Year for a Changing Film Industry

The Oscar Nominations 2026 arrive at a critical moment for Hollywood, as the industry navigates corporate consolidation, evolving distribution models, and broader concerns about the future of theatrical filmmaking. Against this backdrop, the nominations reaffirm the Academy’s belief in human creativity and storytelling as the foundation of cinema.

With historic records, intense competition, and significant firsts, the 98th Academy Awards are shaping up to be one of the most consequential Oscar seasons in recent years.

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