The 98th Academy Awards, held on March 15, 2026, represent a landmark celebration of cinematic achievement at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. This year’s ceremony is hosted by the Emmy Award-winning comedian and writer Conan O'Brien, who returns for his second consecutive year following a widely praised performance in 2025.
The 2026 awards season is headlined by the record-breaking performance of the supernatural thriller Sinners, which became the first film in history to receive 16 Oscar nominations. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 14 nominations held by films such as Titanic and La La Land. Sinners is competing in major categories including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, who portrays twin brothers in 1930s Mississippi.
The competition for the night's top honors is intense, with the countercultural comedy One Battle After Another following closely with 13 nominations. Other prominent contenders include the Shakespearean drama Hamnet, which earned eight nominations, and the table-tennis drama Marty Supreme, which secured nine. The year is also notable for its international diversity, featuring multiple acting nominations for performers in foreign-language films like Sentimental Value and The Secret Agent. Wagner Moura notably became the first Brazilian actor to be nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Secret Agent.
A historic addition to this year’s ceremony is the debut of the Best Casting category. This marks the first new competitive Oscar category introduced since 2001, bringing the total number of competitive awards to 24. The inaugural nominees for this category include the casting directors for Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, and Sinners.
In the major acting races, Jessie Buckley is considered the frontrunner for Best Actress for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet, having swept the Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG, and Critics Choice awards earlier in the season. In the Best Actor category, Timothée Chalamet is a leading favorite for his portrayal of a table-tennis hustler in Marty Supreme.
The ceremony itself features a variety of high-profile musical performances, including the Oscar-nominated song "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters, performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami. Another highlight is a live cinematic homage to the film Sinners featuring the song "I Lied to You" performed by Miles Caton, Raphael Saadiq, and world-renowned dancer Misty Copeland.
Following the telecast, the elite of Hollywood gather at the Governors Ball in the Ray Dolby Ballroom. This official after-party, which has been a tradition since 1958, is where winners bring their statuettes to have their names and categories officially engraved. The event features a menu curated by chef Wolfgang Puck for the 32nd year, focusing on luxury "comfort food" and a commitment to sustainability, including a near-zero-waste model and a plant-based menu exceeding 50%.


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