The excitement surrounding the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026) has reached its peak as the film industry prepares for one of the biggest nights in cinema. Every year, the Oscars celebrate excellence in filmmaking, honoring the best performances, creative storytelling, and technical achievements in movies from around the world.

After months of anticipation, predictions, and industry buzz, the awards ceremony will finally take place at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood. Movie fans, critics, and filmmakers are eagerly waiting to see which films and artists will take home the prestigious golden statuette.

When and Where to Watch the Oscars 2026

The 2026 Oscars ceremony is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 4 PM at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The show will once again be hosted by popular comedian and television personality Conan O’Brien, who returns as the host for the second consecutive year.

Viewers can watch the live telecast through multiple platforms. The ceremony will air on ABC, while online viewers can stream the event through platforms such as Hulu, YouTube TV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV. The Oscars will also be broadcast globally in more than 200 countries and territories, making it one of the most widely viewed entertainment events in the world.

Best Picture Nominees

The race for Best Picture is expected to be one of the most competitive in recent years. Two films in particular have generated significant buzz throughout the awards season.

“Sinners” has made headlines by earning a record 16 nominations, while “One Battle After Another” follows closely behind with 13 nominations. Both films have dominated the awards conversation and are widely considered the frontrunners heading into the ceremony.

Other films nominated in the Best Picture category include:

• Bugonia
• F1
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another
• The Secret Agent
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners
• Train Dreams

Each of these films has impressed critics and audiences with compelling storytelling, strong performances, and exceptional filmmaking.

Best Actor Nominees

The Best Actor category features some of the biggest names in Hollywood, delivering powerful performances in critically acclaimed films.

The nominees include:

• Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
• Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
• Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
• Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
• Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

Each of these actors has delivered memorable performances that have captured the attention of audiences and critics alike.

Best Actress Nominees

The Best Actress category also features an impressive lineup of talented performers who have delivered emotionally powerful roles.

Nominees include:

• Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
• Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
• Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
• Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
• Emma Stone – Bugonia

These performances have been widely praised for their depth, authenticity, and emotional impact.

Supporting Actor and Actress Categories

The supporting acting categories highlight incredible performances that played a key role in the success of their respective films.

Best Supporting Actor Nominees

• Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
• Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
• Delroy Lindo – Sinners
• Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
• Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value

Best Supporting Actress Nominees

• Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
• Amy Madigan – Weapons
• Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
• Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

These actors have delivered standout supporting roles that helped elevate their films to new heights.

Best Director Nominees

The Best Director category celebrates filmmakers who demonstrated exceptional vision and storytelling through their movies.

Nominees include:

• Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
• Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
• Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
• Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
• Ryan Coogler – Sinners

Many industry experts believe the race for Best Director will be extremely competitive this year.

Screenplay Categories

Great films often start with great writing. The Oscars recognize this through the Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay categories.

Adapted Screenplay Nominees

• Bugonia – Will Tracy
• Frankenstein – Guillermo del Toro
• Hamnet – Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell
• One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
• Train Dreams – Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar

Original Screenplay Nominees

• Blue Moon – Robert Kaplow
• It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi
• Marty Supreme – Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein
• Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt
• Sinners – Ryan Coogler

These films showcase strong storytelling and compelling narratives.

Other Major Categories

In addition to the major acting and directing awards, the Oscars also celebrate excellence across many technical and creative fields.

Some of the key categories include:

Animated Feature

• Arco
• Elio
• KPop Demon Hunters
• Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
• Zootopia 2

Cinematography

• Frankenstein
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another
• Sinners
• Train Dreams

Visual Effects

• Avatar: Fire and Ash
• F1
• Jurassic World Rebirth
• The Lost Bus
• Sinners

Sound

• F1
• Frankenstein
• One Battle After Another
• Sinners
• Sirāt

Costume Design

• Avatar: Fire and Ash
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• Sinners

These categories highlight the incredible craftsmanship behind the scenes that helps bring movies to life.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Oscars promises to be an exciting celebration of cinematic achievement. With strong competition across multiple categories, audiences can expect surprising wins, emotional speeches, and memorable moments throughout the night.

Films like Sinners and One Battle After Another are leading the conversation, but as history has shown, the Oscars often deliver unexpected results.

As the countdown to the ceremony continues, film lovers around the world are eagerly waiting to hear the iconic words:

“And the Oscar goes to…”