98th Oscar Nominations Unveiled: Sinners and One Battle after Another Lead 2026 Race
A total of 24 categories will be awarded during the ceremony. While most categories feature five nominees, the Best Picture category maintains a field of 10.
RMN Stars Awards Desk
New Delhi | January 23, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA – The road to Hollywood’s biggest night officially began on Thursday, January 22, 2026, as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the 98th Oscars. Oscar-nominated actor Danielle Brooks and actor Lewis Pullman revealed the selections during a live global stream from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, honoring the cinematic achievements of films released in 2025.
Top Contenders and Acting Powerhouses
The nominations list is highlighted by several heavy hitters, including Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle after Another, both of which secured nods for Best Picture and Directing. Joining them in the 10-film Best Picture race are Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and Train Dreams.
The acting categories feature a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars. The race for Actor in a Leading Role includes Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle after Another), and Michael B. Jordan (Sinners). Meanwhile, the Actress in a Leading Role category sees Emma Stone (Bugonia) and Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) facing off against Kate Hudson, Rose Byrne, and Renate Reinsve.
In the supporting categories, Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn both earned nods for One Battle after Another, while Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas were both recognized for their work in Sentimental Value.
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Diverse Global Recognition
The 98th Oscars showcase a broad international scope, with nomination ballots submitted from 88 countries. The International Feature Film category features contenders from Brazil (The Secret Agent), France (It Was Just an Accident), Norway (Sentimental Value), Spain (Sirāt), and Tunisia (The Voice of Hind Rajab).
In the Animated Feature Film category, major studio sequels and originals will compete, including Disney’s Zootopia 2 and Pixar’s Elio, alongside Arco, KPop Demon Hunters, and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain.
The Road to the Dolby Theatre
A total of 24 categories will be awarded during the ceremony. While most categories feature five nominees, the Best Picture category maintains a field of 10. The Academy’s 19 branches determined the nominees in their respective fields—such as actors nominating actors—while all active members were eligible to vote for Best Picture.
To maintain eligibility for the final round, active members must view all nominated films in a category before casting their votes. Finals voting is set to begin on Thursday, February 26, 2026, and will conclude on March 5. All ballots are conducted via a secret online system and tabulated by the independent firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony will air live on ABC at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and will be available for streaming on Hulu, reaching audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide.
