2026 Oscar Nominations Are In: ‘Sinners’ Makes History as Major Snubs and Surprises Shake the Race
The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards have officially arrived, and this year’s lineup is already fueling debate across Hollywood.
Oscar®-nominated actor Danielle Brooks and actor Lewis Pullman announced the nominees Thursday morning, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most surprising awards seasons in recent memory. As previously confirmed, Conan O’Brien will return to host the ceremony, which takes place Sunday, March 15, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The show will air live on ABC, stream on Hulu, and broadcast in more than 200 territories worldwide.
While prestige contenders dominated the slate, the nominations also delivered record-breaking achievements, eyebrow-raising omissions, pleasant surprises, and a few outcomes that no one saw coming.
‘Sinners’ Dominates with a Record-Breaking 16 Nominations
The biggest headline of the morning belongs to Sinners, which shattered an Academy record after earning a staggering 16 nominations. Ryan Coogler landed nods for directing and writing, while Michael B. Jordan received a Best Actor nomination.
One of the most celebrated surprises came from Delroy Lindo, who earned his first-ever Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Lindo’s inclusion was widely applauded, especially after he was left out of earlier precursor awards, overtaking Hamnet’s Paul Mescal, long considered a frontrunner.
Acting Races: Career Milestones and Unexpected Turns
Leading Actor
The Best Actor race features a strong mix of industry favorites and international talent, including Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
Leading Actress
The Best Actress category delivered one of the morning’s biggest shocks. Kate Hudson secured her second career Oscar nomination for Song Sung Blue, 25 years after her first nod for Almost Famous. While the nomination marks a milestone, it also stirred controversy, particularly as Chase Infiniti, the 25-year-old breakout star of One Battle After Another, was left out despite strong showings at the Golden Globes and Actor Awards.
Other nominees include Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne, Renate Reinsve, and Emma Stone for Bugonia.
The Biggest Snub: ‘Wicked: For Good’ Shut Out Completely
Perhaps the most talked-about omission of the morning was Wicked: For Good, which failed to earn a SINGLE nomination (not even for Production, Costume, or Hair & Makeup???). The snub was especially surprising given that the original Wicked earned 10 nominations in 2025.
Both Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who were nominated last year for their performances, were absent from the acting races, despite Grande’s strong presence throughout the precursor awards season. The sequel’s complete shutout has already ignited debate about franchise fatigue and sequel bias within the Academy.
Directing, Writing, and Craft Categories Shine
The Directing lineup reflects the Academy’s admiration for their favorite voices, with nominations for Chloé Zhao, Josh Safdie, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Joachim Trier, as well as first-time nominee Ryan Coogler.
In the screenplay categories, Sinners, Marty Supreme, and Sentimental Value emerged as major players, while Train Dreams and Bugonia also picked up key writing nods.
Technical categories leaned heavily toward Frankenstein, Sinners, and Avatar: Fire and Ash, while Zootopia 2 and KPOP Demon Hunters received noms in the animated field.
Looking Ahead to Oscar Night
With industry veterans, rising stars, and bold filmmakers sharing the spotlight, the 2026 Oscar race feels far from settled. Records have been broken, frontrunners reshuffled, and long-held assumptions upended, all before a single envelope has been opened.
Whether this year’s surprises signal a changing Academy, or simply another unpredictable awards season will soon be decided on Hollywood’s biggest night.
