The film industry's most anticipated announcement arrived on Thursday as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the complete list of nominees for the 2026 Oscars. The 98th annual ceremony promises high drama, with several headline-grabbing contests and surprising omissions already generating buzz.
Supporting Categories Kick Off with Notable Snubs
The first award category announced was Actress in a Supporting Role, with the nominees including Elle Fanning for Sentimental Value, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Amy Madigan for Weapons, Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners, and Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another. However, the category was marked by a significant snub, as Ariana Grande failed to secure a nomination for her role in Wicked: For Good, despite being nominated the previous year for her work in the first Wicked film.
A Star-Studded Supporting Actor Line-Up
The Actor in a Supporting Role category features an impressive array of talent. The nominees are Benecio Del Toro for One Battle After Another, Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein, Delroy Lindo for Sinners, Sean Penn for One Battle After Another, and Stellan Skarsgard for Sentimental Value.
All Eyes on the Best Actor Showdown
Undoubtedly, the most anticipated category is Best Actor, where Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio are expected to face off in a coveted showdown. This high-profile contest is set to be a major focal point of the awards season, following their recent appearances at events like the Golden Globe Awards.
Ceremony Details and Host Announcement
The 98th annual Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at its traditional home, The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The ceremony will be televised live on ABC and broadcast in more than 200 territories worldwide. Oscar viewers will welcome a familiar face, as Conan O'Brien returns to host, building on his success from last year's ceremony, which drew the biggest audience in five years.
Nomination Announcement and Voting Process
Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman announced the nominees in all 24 categories, including the new casting award, via a livestream from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. The nominations were chosen through a ranked-choice ballot system, also known as a preferential ballot, where each voter listed their nominees in order of preference.
When the ballots were counted, nominees were selected based on the number of votes over a particular threshold and the overall number of nominees in each category. For contenders that didn’t hit the required threshold, the ranked-choice balloting took effect to determine the final list.
Academy Membership and Voting Structure
The Academy currently has just over 11,000 members, divided into 19 branches, including directors, writers, costume designers, hair and make-up teams, publicists, and the largest branch: actors. Of these members, just under 10,000 are eligible to vote for the Academy Awards, with non-voting members holding emeritus status.
This represents a significant increase from 2012, when a Los Angeles Times report revealed the Academy had about 5,800 members, highlighting a massive expansion over the past 14 years.
Category Details and Best Picture Selection
At the biggest night in film, 24 categories will be awarded, with each category featuring five nominees, except for Best Picture, which has ten. Best Picture nominations are uniquely determined by eligible members from all 19 Academy branches, ensuring a broad consensus.
All rounds of Oscars voting are conducted by secret online ballot, with tabulation handled by the independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the process.
As the countdown to March 15 begins, the full list of Oscar nominees is eagerly awaited, setting the stage for a ceremony filled with glamour, competition, and celebration of cinematic excellence.
