The 2026 Oscar nominations were unveiled on Thursday morning, revealing significant surprises and notable absences, including a major Brad Pitt Oscar snub. Despite strong performances and films making the cut, many expected nominees, such as Pitt, were left off the list, stirring conversations about the race‘s outcomes and the Academy’s decisions.
Surprising Omissions Among the Leading Actors
While films like Sinners, One Battle After Another, and Marty Supreme dominated the nominations, several high-profile actors were unexpectedly excluded. Notably, Ariana Grande, who portrayed Glinda in Wicked: For Good, missed out on a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Her co-star Cynthia Erivo, known for playing Elphaba, was also absent from the Best Actress category.
Gwyneth Paltrow did not receive a nomination for her role alongside Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme, even as Chalamet earned a Best Actor nod. Additionally, Odessa A’Zion, who delivered a supporting performance in the same film, was not recognized.
Other major stars left off the nominations included Jennifer Lawrence for Die, My Love and Amanda Seyfried for her work in The Testament of Anne Lee. Adam Sandler also missed out on a Best Supporting Actor nod for his role in Jay Kelly, where he starred opposite George Clooney. Paul Mescal’s performance in Hamnet was overlooked, and Joel Edgerton, star of Train Dreams, did not receive an acting nomination despite the film earning several nods.
Perhaps most controversial is the exclusion of Brad Pitt from the acting categories, even though his film F1, a racing movie, secured multiple nominations including Best Picture, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound.
Record-Breaking Nominations and International Film Recognition
Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller Sinners set a historic record this year by receiving 16 nominations, breaking the previous record of 14 that was held by classics such as All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land. The film’s accolades spanned major categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, and Best Supporting Actor for Delroy Lindo.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another followed closely, earning 12 nods with Leonardo DiCaprio recognized for Best Actor and supporting nominations for Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn. Joachim Trier’s Norwegian drama Sentimental Value gained nine nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, featuring Timothée Chalamet, received eight nominations, further positioning it as a major contender.
International cinema achieved significant attention this season. Both Sentimental Value and Brazil‘s The Secret Agent secured places in the Best Picture race and competed in Best International Feature. Trier earned a Best Director nomination, and Wagner Moura, star of The Secret Agent, continued an impressive awards streak with a Best Actor nomination following his Golden Globes victory.
Comprehensive Breakdown of Major Nomination Categories
Leading the Best Actor contenders are Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent. This category is packed with celebrated talent, spotlighting a diverse range of powerful performances.
The Best Actress race features Jessie Buckley in Hamnet, Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson in Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve in Sentimental Value, and Emma Stone for Bugonia. These nominations underscore the strong presence of vibrant female lead roles this season.
Supporting roles are dominated by films such as Sentimental Value, Sinners, and One Battle After Another. Best Supporting Actor nominees include Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn from One Battle After Another, Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein, Delroy Lindo from Sinners, and Stellan Skarsgard for Sentimental Value. The Best Supporting Actress category highlights Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas from Sentimental Value, Amy Madigan for Weapons, Wunmi Mosaku in Sinners, and Teyana Taylor from One Battle After Another.
Other Noteworthy Categories and Industry Firsts
In directing, nominees are Chloe Zhao for Hamnet, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme, Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value, and Ryan Coogler for Sinners. The depth of directorial talent reflects the high caliber of storytelling across this year’s films.
The Academy introduced a new casting award this year, adding to the diversity of recognition. Nominees include casting directors 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.
Technical achievements also received wide appreciation. Films like Frankenstein, One Battle After Another, and Sinners earned nominations for Best Cinematography, with Dan Laustsen, Michael Bauman, and Autumn Durald Arkapaw recognized respectively. Best Production Design nods included Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, and Sinners.
Avatar: Fire and Ash, despite missing out on Best Picture consideration, was acknowledged in Best Visual Effects and Costume Design categories, reflecting its high production values. This third installment of James Cameron’s franchise has grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide.
Highlights in Music and Sound Categories
KPop sensation Demon Hunters made a notable impact by securing nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.” Other songs nominated include “Dear Me” by Diane Warren from Relentless, “I Lied to You” from Sinners, “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi!, and the track “Train Dreams” from its eponymous film.
Sound nominations went to Frankenstein, One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Sirat, emphasizing the importance of auditory experience in these films.
Details of Key Nominees Across All Categories
Best Picture Nominees: Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, Train Dreams.
Best Documentary Feature: The Alabama Solution, Come See Me in the Good Light, Cutting Through Rocks, Mr Nobody Against Putin, The Perfect Neighbor.
Best Animated Feature Film: Arco, Elio, KPop Demon Hunters, Little Amelie or the Character of Rain, Zootopia 2.
Best International Feature Film: The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), Sentimental Value (Norway), Sirat (Spain), The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia).
Event Details and Hosting Announcement
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre located in Ovation Hollywood. It will broadcast live on ABC and be available to viewers across more than 200 territories worldwide.
Returning as host, Conan O’Brien will lead the ceremony for a second consecutive year after helping last year’s Oscars reach their highest viewership in five years, bringing familiarity and continuity to the event.
Implications of Brad Pitt’s Absence and Overall Award Contention
Brad Pitt’s exclusion from the Best Actor category despite his role in the well-nominated film F1 has sparked debate, marking a significant Brad Pitt Oscar snub amid the competitive field. His absence highlights the unpredictability of the Academy’s selections and the shifting landscape of Hollywood recognition.
The overwhelming success of Sinners sets a historic precedent at the Oscars, as it may redefine future expectations for genre films and their treatment by the Academy. Meanwhile, the prominence of international films and diverse stories underlines the global scope the Oscars have embraced in recent years.
With multiple frontrunners in both acting and technical categories, the ceremony is poised to showcase a blend of established talent and rising stars. This year’s nominations suggest that the upcoming Oscars will reflect a complex, multifaceted appreciation of filmmaking, emphasizing innovation, global cinema, and dramatic performances.
