Oscars 2026 Nominations Deliver Major Snubs and Unexpected Surprises
The announcement of the 2026 Academy Award nominations on Thursday morning sent shockwaves through Hollywood, with several widely predicted contenders missing out entirely while other performers secured long-overdue recognition. After an exceptionally strong year for cinema, the brutal limitations of Oscar nominations were always destined to produce notable omissions, but the scale of some exclusions has left industry observers genuinely stunned.
High-Profile Snubs Dominate the Conversation
Ariana Grande and Paul Mescal, both considered near-certainties for acting nominations, were conspicuously absent from the final lists. Grande's effervescent performance as Glinda in Wicked: For Good failed to secure a supporting actress nod, despite the film's predecessor earning ten nominations last year. The sequel itself was completely shut out, receiving zero nominations across all categories.
Mescal delivered what many considered an achingly poignant performance as William Shakespeare in Hamnet, following his previous nomination for Aftersun in 2023. His omission from the best actor category represents one of the morning's most significant surprises.
Notable Directorial Oversights and Genre Recognition
Three-time Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro was widely expected to receive a best director nomination for his passion project Frankenstein, which secured nine other nominations. Instead, the academy selected Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value, marking only the second best director nomination in del Toro's storied career.
In a positive surprise for genre cinema, Amy Madigan secured a supporting actress nomination for her role in the horror film Weapons, suggesting academy voters may be addressing long-standing biases against certain film categories. The critically acclaimed Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, however, was overlooked in the animation category despite its global box office success exceeding $722 million.
Long-Overdue Recognition and Campaign Success Stories
Among the morning's most welcome surprises was Delroy Lindo earning his first-ever Oscar nomination for supporting actor in Sinners. His inclusion came at the expense of other predicted nominees but represents belated recognition for one of cinema's most respected performers.
Kate Hudson demonstrated the power of effective awards campaigning, securing a best actress nomination for Song Sung Blue through a wave of celebrity support and industry goodwill. This marks her first acting nomination since Almost Famous twenty-five years ago, though it meant Chase Infiniti missed out on recognition for her arresting screen debut in One Battle After Another.
International Oversights and Industry Omissions
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi received nominations for original screenplay and international feature for It Was Just an Accident, but his exclusion from best picture and best director categories represents a significant oversight given the film's Palme d'Or victory and his personal persecution. The filmmaker completed the project clandestinely in Iran following imprisonment and continues to face legal restrictions.
Noah Baumbach's industry ode Jay Kelly, featuring strong performances from Adam Sandler and an acclaimed score by Nicholas Britell, failed to secure any nominations despite being considered typical academy fare. Similarly, Jesse Plemons was overlooked for best actor despite his raw performance in Bugonia, though this opened space for Ethan Hawke's nomination for Blue Moon.
The racing drama F1 emerged as an unexpected best picture nominee despite minimal precursor attention, while Amanda Seyfried was denied a leading actress nomination for The Testament of Ann Lee, continuing her pattern of awards underappreciation despite critical acclaim.
