Lights, Camera, Records: The 2026 Oscars Are Ready to Make History

By Liam Gatcliffe

An Oscar statue on Feb. 25, 2025, during a preview of the 97th Annual Academy Awards Governors Ball at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles. The Oscars are moving to YouTube, sending shock waves through Hollywood. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

Explosive action films, gripping thrillers, terrifying horror movies, and poignant dramas grace the screens of theatres all over the world.

Every year, Hollywood hosts the Academy Awards, the most prestigious film awards ceremony in the world. Dreams are made, speeches are given, and hosts are sometimes even slapped (only one occurrence in history, so far!). This year, on March 15, the Oscars are set to be record-breaking in many facets, generating anticipation and excitement among cinephiles. Here’s a quick recap of the newly released nominations list and what to expect on that anticipated night.

Sinners Makes History

Ryan Coogler’s horror film Sinners, released in April of 2025, has rocked the world with its tension-filled journey of twists, turns, and vampires. The film has broken the record for the most nominations ever, earning a staggering 16 nods. Most notably, Coogler (Directing) and Michael B. Jordan (Actor in a Leading Role) headline the array of nominations. When scanning the list, it seems that Sinners has a stake in nearly every category, and it will be exciting to see how many victories it can claim on the 15th.

A Star-Studded Lineup for Best Leading Actor

Cinephiles examining the Best Leading Actor nominations will find a tightly contested field of household names. Timothée Chalamet seeks his first Oscar for Marty Supreme, while Leonardo DiCaprio aims for his second despite an already illustrious career. Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) round out the category. Chalamet stands as the current favorite entering the ceremony.

Emma Stone Breaks a Female Record

With her nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Bugonia, Emma Stone has become the youngest woman, at age 37, to receive seven Oscar nominations. Joining her in the category are Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), and Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value).

New Category Introduced

This year, the Academy Awards introduced a new category: Best Achievement in Casting. For the first time, casting directors are being formally recognized alongside cinematographers, writers, and producers. This marks the first new Oscar category added since Best Animated Feature Film debuted in 2001. Fittingly, Sinners enters as the heavy favorite to win this inaugural award.

Heavyweights for Best Picture

Finally, in the most anticipated award of the night, the 2026 Best Picture lineup does not disappoint. Bugonia, Sinners, Train Dreams, Sentimental Value, The Secret Agent, One Battle After Another, Marty Supreme, Hamnet, Frankenstein, and the summer blockbuster F1 will wait until the final announcement to see who claims the top honor. One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, currently stands as the favorite in what promises to be a tightly contested race.

One thing is certain: movie lovers have experienced countless new memories this past year thanks to the art created by these filmmaking teams. I count myself among those fans, and I eagerly await an Academy Awards ceremony that could etch its name into film history.