The nominees for the 98th Academy Awards are now official, with Ryan Coogler‘s musical horror film “Sinners” making history by securing a record-breaking 16 nominations. The nominations were announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026, by actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles. This year’s Oscars introduced a brand new category, and the race for Best Picture features a diverse mix of ten films ranging from epic dramas to intimate international stories.
Top Nominees and Record Breakers
“Sinners” has broken the long-standing record for the most Oscar nominations received by a single film. Its 16 nominations surpass the previous record of 14, jointly held by “All About Eve” (1950), “Titanic” (1997), and “La La Land” (2016). The film is nominated for top awards including Best Picture, Best Director for Ryan Coogler, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan.
Close behind is Paul Thomas Anderson‘s political thriller “One Battle After Another,” which earned 13 nominations. Other films with a strong showing include “Frankenstein,” “Marty Supreme,” and the Norwegian drama “Sentimental Value,” each with nine nominations.
The ten films competing for Best Picture are:
- “Bugonia” (Focus Features)
- “F1” (Apple)
- “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
- “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
- “Marty Supreme” (A24)
- “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
- “The Secret Agent” (Neon)
- “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
- “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
- “Train Dreams” (Netflix)
Among studios, Warner Bros. leads with 30 total nominations, largely due to the strong performance of “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another.” Neon follows with 18, and Netflix has 16.
New Casting Category Makes Oscar History
For the first time since 2002, the Oscars have added a new competitive category: Best Casting. This award recognizes the crucial work of casting directors in assembling a film’s actors. The introduction of this category has been discussed for years by industry professionals.
The first-ever nominees for Best Casting are:
- “Hamnet” (Nina Gold)
- “Marty Supreme” (Jennifer Venditti)
- “One Battle After Another” (Cassandra Kulukundis)
- “The Secret Agent” (Gabriel Domingues)
- “Sinners” (Francine Maisler)
The Academy also implemented stricter viewing rules for voters this year. To vote in most categories, members must verify they have watched all nominated films, using a special app or official forms to log their viewing.
Key Acting and Directing Races to Watch
The Best Actor category features a mix of seasoned stars and powerful performances. Leonardo DiCaprio is nominated for “One Battle After Another,” while Timothรฉe Chalamet is recognized for his role in the ping-pong drama “Marty Supreme.” Michael B. Jordan earned a nod for “Sinners,” and Wagner Moura is nominated for his leading role in the Brazilian film “The Secret Agent,” making him a rare nominee in both Best Actor and Best International Feature for the same film.
In Best Actress, Emma Stone received a nomination for the alien comedy “Bugonia.” She is joined by Jessie Buckley for “Hamnet,” Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, and Renate Reinsve for “Sentimental Value”.
The Best Director nominees mirror the Best Picture race’s strength, with all five directors helming nominated films. The contenders are Chloรฉ Zhao (“Hamnet”), Josh Safdie (“Marty Supreme”), Paul Thomas Anderson (“One Battle After Another”), Joachim Trier (“Sentimental Value”), and Ryan Coogler (“Sinners”).
Other Notable Categories and Major Snubs
Several other categories highlight the year’s cinematic achievements. “Sinners” shows its technical strength with nominations in Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design (for Ruth E. Carter), Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects.
The Best International Feature Film category includes acclaimed works from around the world: “The Secret Agent” (Brazil), “It Was Just an Accident” (France), “Sentimental Value” (Norway), “Sirฤt” (Spain), and “The Voice of Hind Rajab” (Tunisia).
A major surprise was the complete omission of “Wicked: For Good” from all nomination categories. In positive surprises, veterans Delroy Lindo (Best Supporting Actor for “Sinners”) and Kate Hudson (Best Actress for “Song Sung Blue”) received nominations that many analysts considered unexpected.
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How to Watch the 98th Academy Awards
The 98th Oscars ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Conan O’Brien will return to host the show for his second consecutive year.
The broadcast will air live on ABC at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time / 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time. It will also be available to stream live on Hulu.
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