Raye Radiates Old Hollywood Glamour at the 2026 Academy Awards
The 98th Academy Awards, held on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrated the finest films of 2025 with a night of glitz and glamour. Among the early highlights was British singer Raye, who captivated onlookers as she arrived in a stunning off-the-shoulder red gown. The 28-year-old Escapism artist channelled timeless Hollywood elegance in the dress, which featured a structured bone corset for a dramatic silhouette.
Raye accessorised her glamorous outfit with an eye-catching diamond necklace, centred around a huge ruby that sparkled under the lights. She put on a playful display on the red carpet, posing for photographers and forming a love-heart shape with her hands, adding a touch of whimsy to the prestigious event.
Record-Breaking Nominations for Sinners
The ceremony, hosted for a second consecutive year by Conan O'Brien, saw Ryan Coogler's horror film Sinners lead the pack with a record-breaking 16 nominations. This achievement marks the most nominations ever for any film in Academy Awards history, surpassing previous records. Sinners is among the ten films vying for Best Picture, alongside contenders like Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and Train Dreams.
Set in 1930s Mississippi, Sinners follows twin brothers, both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, who return to their hometown only to confront a supernatural evil. Jordan faces a highly competitive Best Actor category, competing against Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent. The race is currently a dead heat, with Chalamet having dominated early awards season, but Jordan gaining momentum after a win at the Actor Awards.
Star-Studded Categories and Notable Snubs
In the Best Actress category, Irish star Jessie Buckley is the frontrunner for her role in Chloe Zhao's Hamnet, which reimagines William Shakespeare's home life. She competes against Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I Would Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, and Emma Stone for Bugonia.
Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another secured 13 nominations, including Best Director, Best Actor for DiCaprio, and Supporting Actor nods for Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn. The black comedy action-thriller follows a washed-up ex-revolutionary forced to rescue his daughter from a corrupt military officer.
Notable snubs sparked controversy, with Ariana Grande omitted from the Supporting Actress category for Wicked: For Good, despite a nomination last year. The film was completely shut out of nominations, despite Cynthia Erivo's acclaimed performance. Gwyneth Paltrow was also left off the list for Marty Supreme, and Paul Mescal, Adam Sandler, and Jesse Plemons were notable absences in the Supporting Actor category.
New Award and Ceremony Details
A new award for Best Casting was introduced this year, with nominees including Nina Gold for Hamnet, Jennifer Venditti for Marty Supreme, Cassandra Kulukundis for One Battle After Another, Gabriel Domingues for The Secret Agent, and Francine Maisler for Sinners.
The ceremony aired live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV, kicking off at 7pm ET/4pm PT. The event showcased a diverse range of films, from Guillermo del Toro's lavish reimagining of Frankenstein to Joachim Trier's family drama Sentimental Value, both earning nine nominations each.
As the night unfolded, winners were announced across categories, with Sinners solidifying its place in Oscar history and stars like Raye adding to the evening's unforgettable moments.
