2026 OSCAR NOMINATIONS: Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” breaks records with 16 nominations for the 98th Academy Awards. See the full list of Best Picture, Actor, and Actress nominees, plus the biggest snubs including George Clooney and “Wicked: For Good.”
The 98th Academy Award nominations were unveiled early Thursday morning, January 22, 2026, and the results have officially rewrite film history. Ryan Coogler’s vampire epic “Sinners” emerged as a juggernaut, securing a record-shattering 16 nominations—surpassing the previous all-time record of 14 held by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land.
The nominations, announced by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, also signaled a massive year for Paul Thomas Anderson, whose historical thriller “One Battle After Another“ followed closely behind with 13 nods.
The “Big Five” and Historic Milestones
This year’s field is a blend of high-budget spectacles and intimate auteur-driven dramas. Notably, Timothée Chalamet (30) became the youngest male in history to earn three Best Actor nominations with his turn in Marty Supreme.
| Category | Top Nominees | Film |
| Best Picture | — | Sinners, One Battle After Another, Marty Supreme, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Bugonia, F1, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams |
| Best Director | Ryan Coogler | Sinners |
| Paul Thomas Anderson | One Battle After Another | |
| Chloé Zhao | Hamnet | |
| Josh Safdie | Marty Supreme | |
| Joachim Trier | Sentimental Value | |
| Best Actor | Michael B. Jordan | Sinners |
| Timothée Chalamet | Marty Supreme | |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | One Battle After Another | |
| Ethan Hawke | Blue Moon | |
| Wagner Moura | The Secret Agent | |
| Best Actress | Jessie Buckley | Hamnet |
| Emma Stone | Bugonia | |
| Renate Reinsve | Sentimental Value | |
| Kate Hudson | Song Sung Blue | |
| Rose Byrne | If I Had Legs I’d Kick You |
Surprises and The Inaugural “Best Casting” Category
The 2026 Oscars marks the debut of the Best Casting category—the first new Academy Award since 2001. The inaugural nominees include the casting directors for Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, and Sinners.
The Biggest Surprises:
- “F1” Speeding Into Best Picture: Despite a total absence in the acting and directing categories, the high-octane racing film F1 secured a spot in the Best Picture lineup, largely on the strength of its technical mastery.
- Kate Hudson’s Return: After years away from the Oscar spotlight, Hudson’s performance in Song Sung Blue earned her a surprising but well-deserved Best Actress nod.
- Delroy Lindo’s First Nod: Long considered one of Hollywood’s most overlooked veterans, Lindo finally secured his first nomination for his supporting role in Sinners.
The Snub List: A Bad Year for “Wicked”
Perhaps the most shocking narrative of the morning was the total lockout of “Wicked: For Good.” After the first installment dominated nominations last year, the sequel was shut out of every single category, including previous favorites Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Other notable snubs include:
- George Clooney: Left out for his meta-performance in Jay Kelly.
- Paul Mescal: Despite heavy buzz for Hamnet, the actor failed to make the Supporting Actor list.
- Guillermo del Toro: While his Frankenstein earned 9 nominations, he was noticeably missing from the Best Director lineup.
- Daniel Day-Lewis: His highly anticipated return to acting in Anemone did not translate into a nomination.
Timeline to the Gold
- Final Voting Begins: February 26, 2026
- Final Voting Ends: March 5, 2026
- The 98th Academy Awards: Sunday, March 15, 2026
The ceremony will be hosted for the second consecutive year by Conan O’Brien and will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu.
