The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially unveiled the first wave of nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, setting the stage for a competitive race ahead of the March 15, 2026 ceremony.
In a televised announcement that saw actors Lewis Pullman and Danielle Brooks reveal the contenders, several films emerged as early front-runners.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners led the major categories, drawing significant attention from critics, industry insiders and award watchers.
The Oscars will return to the spotlight with comedian Conan O’Brien hosting the ceremony, promising a blend of entertainment and industry prestige as filmmakers and actors await the final results.
Full List of 2026 Oscar Nominees Reveals Early Favorites and New Contenders
The nominations list shows a blend of established filmmakers and emerging talents, with a notable presence of films that have already made waves at other awards circuits.
While some nominations were widely predicted, others represent fresh recognition for lesser-known titles.
Best Picture
- Bugonia
- F1: The Movie
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Train Dreams
The Best Picture category remains wide open, featuring both blockbuster-style films and smaller, character-driven narratives.
One Battle After Another and Sinners stand out as likely contenders due to their strong placement across multiple categories.
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
This category signals a strong year for established acting talent. Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in One Battle After Another is being watched closely, while Michael B. Jordan’s role in Sinners has been widely praised for its intensity and depth.
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
The Best Actress list combines a mixture of veteran performers and rising stars.
Jessie Buckley’s inclusion for Hamnet underscores the film’s strong emotional resonance, while Emma Stone’s nomination for Bugonia confirms her continued presence in awards conversations.
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
Supporting roles in One Battle After Another and Sinners have attracted major attention, indicating both films’ strong ensemble casts.
Delroy Lindo’s nomination in particular has been seen as recognition of the film’s emotional complexity.
Best Supporting Actress
- Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
- Amy Madigan, Weapons
- Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
- Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
The Supporting Actress category includes multiple nominations for Sentimental Value, highlighting the film’s strength in casting and character development.
Sinners also secured recognition through Wunmi Mosaku’s standout performance.
Best Director
- Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
- Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
- Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
- Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
- Ryan Coogler, Sinners
The director list reinforces One Battle After Another and Sinners as major contenders.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler have long been considered frontrunners in industry circles, and their nominations reflect the continued momentum behind their films.
Original Screenplay
- Robert Kaplow, Blue Moon
- Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident
- Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
- Eskil Vogt & Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
- Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Adapted Screenplay
- Will Tracy, Bugonia
- Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein
- Chloé Zhao & Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet
- Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
- Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar, Train Dreams
The screenplay categories demonstrate the Academy’s recognition of both original and adapted narratives. Sinners and One Battle After Another appear across multiple categories, indicating their broad appeal and technical strength.
Technical Categories
Among the technical nominations, films such as Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, and Sinners received recognition in cinematography, production design, editing, sound and visual effects.
Avatar: Fire and Ash also secured nominations in Costume Design and Visual Effects, confirming the franchise’s continuing technical dominance.
The visual effects category also includes F1: The Movie and Jurassic World Rebirth, which signal the Academy’s ongoing appreciation for high-budget spectacle.
Music and Song Categories
The Original Score nominations include notable composers such as Alexandre Desplat and Max Richter, while the Original Song category highlights tracks from Sinners and Train Dreams, among others.
The early nominations suggest a highly competitive awards season, with One Battle After Another and Sinners shaping up as the titles to beat.
As the film industry heads toward the March 15 ceremony, analysts will closely monitor box office performance, critical reception, and campaigning efforts.
With the Academy’s first round of nominations complete, the focus now shifts to final voting and the remaining categories.
For now, the 2026 Oscars race is set, and the film community is watching closely to see which titles will emerge as the year’s definitive cinematic achievements.
