Oscars 2026: Sinners Shatters Records as Nominations Revealed
The 2026 Academy Awards nominations are out, with Sinners making history for most nods ever. A brand new Best Casting category debuts, shaking up the ceremony for the first time in over 20 years.
The curtain has lifted on this year’s Academy Awards nominations, and the headlines belong to Sinners. Ryan Coogler’s horror feature has not only topped the list with 16 nods, but also set a new benchmark for the most nominations a single film has ever received at the Oscars. It’s a remarkable feat, eclipsing previous records and setting the tone for a ceremony that promises a few surprises.
Hot on its heels, One Battle After Another has secured 13 nominations, while Frankenstein and Sentimental Value each find themselves in the running for nine awards. Hamnet, meanwhile, is not far behind with eight. The field is crowded, but Sinners’ dominance is the talk of the town.
New Category Makes Its Debut
For the first time in more than twenty years, the Academy has introduced a fresh category: Best Casting. This addition recognises the often unsung art of assembling the perfect ensemble, and its inaugural shortlist features Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, and Sinners. The move has been met with a mix of curiosity and approval from industry insiders, who have long called for greater recognition of casting directors’ contributions.
Spotlight on the Main Contenders
In the coveted Best Picture race, the following titles are vying for the top prize: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams. It’s a diverse line-up, with genres and styles ranging from period drama to high-octane thrillers.
Directorial honours are being contested by Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), and Chloé Zhao (Hamnet). Each brings a distinct vision, making the category particularly unpredictable this year.
Acting Nominations and Screenplay Standouts
The acting categories are brimming with familiar faces and a few surprises. Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) are all in the running for Best Actor. On the Best Actress front, Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), and Emma Stone (Bugonia) have each earned a nod.
Supporting roles have not gone unnoticed. Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn (both for One Battle After Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Delroy Lindo (Sinners), and Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value) are among those recognised for Best Supporting Actor. The Best Supporting Actress field includes Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Amy Madigan (Weapons), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another).
Original Screenplay contenders are Blue Moon, It Was Just an Accident, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, and Sinners. Adapted Screenplay sees Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, One Battle After Another, and Train Dreams in the mix.
Craft, Shorts, and Ceremony Details
Beyond the headline categories, the nominations extend across a wide array of disciplines. Animated Feature, Production Design, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, Visual Effects, Original Score, Original Song, Documentary Feature, International Feature, Animated Short, Documentary Short, and Live-Action Short all have their own sets of hopefuls, reflecting the breadth of talent in the industry.
The 2026 Oscars ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, 15 March, when the winners will finally be revealed and the industry’s biggest night will unfold in all its unpredictable glory.