The race for Hollywood's highest honours has officially commenced with the unveiling of the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards. Actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman revealed the contenders live on Good Morning America and YouTube in the early hours of Thursday morning, setting the stage for the grand finale of the 2025 film awards season.
Historic Lead for 'Sinners'
In a remarkable achievement, Ryan Coogler's gripping vampire horror Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twins, dominates the field with an unprecedented 16 nominations. This tally surpasses any film in the storied history of the Oscars, positioning it as the frontrunner for the ceremony on Sunday, 15 March at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Prestige Contenders Close Behind
Hot on its heels is Paul Thomas Anderson's intricate caper One Battle After Another, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, which garnered a formidable 13 nominations. The lineup of major contenders is rounded out by Guillermo del Toro's visionary take on Frankenstein and Josh Safdie's intense ping pong drama Marty Supreme, each securing nine nods. Chloé Zhao's Shakespearean drama Hamnet follows closely with eight nominations.
One of the morning's most talked-about surprises was the inclusion of Brad Pitt's high-octane F1 blockbuster among the nominees for Best Picture, adding an unexpected twist to the prestige-heavy category.
New Award and Ceremony Details
This year's Oscars ceremony, hosted for a second consecutive year by the widely praised comedian Conan O'Brien, introduces a significant change: the inaugural Best Casting award. This new competitive category expands the total number of Oscars presented to 24, marking the first addition of a new award in over two decades. It aims to formally recognise the creative and essential contributions of casting directors to the filmmaking process.
Full List of 2026 Oscar Nominees
Best Picture
- Bugonia
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Train Dreams
Best Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
- Ryan Coogler, Sinners
- Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
- Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
- Chloe Zhao, Hamnet
Best Actor
- Timothee Chalamet, Marty Supreme
- Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
- Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
- Michael B Jordan, Sinners
- Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
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 Supporting Actor
- Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value
- Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
- Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
- Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
- Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Best Supporting Actress
- Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
- Amy Madigan, Weapons
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
- Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
- Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value
Additional Key Categories
The nominations span all major technical and creative fields, with Best Original Screenplay contenders including Blue Moon and Sinners, and Best Adapted Screenplay featuring Hamnet and One Battle After Another. In the newly introduced Best Casting category, nominees are Hamnet, Sinners, The Secret Agent, One Battle After Another, and Marty Supreme.
Other notable categories include Best Animated Feature with Zootopia 2 and KPop Demon Hunters, Best International Feature with The Secret Agent and Sentimental Value, and Best Original Song with tracks from Sinners and Train Dreams. The technical awards for Cinematography, Production Design, Sound, and Visual Effects further highlight the year's cinematic achievements, with films like Frankenstein and Sinners appearing across multiple lists.
As the film industry and audiences worldwide turn their attention to the upcoming ceremony, these nominations celebrate a diverse and impactful year in cinema, from blockbuster spectacles to intimate dramas, all vying for the coveted golden statuettes.
