2026 Academy Awards set for a star-studded March return

The red carpet clock is ticking. Hollywood’s most glamorous night roars back on Sunday, March 15, as the 2026 Academy Awards light up the Dolby Theatre once again. Airing live at 4 p.m. PT on ABC and Hulu, this year’s ceremony blends old-school Oscar tradition with the modern pull of streaming — setting the stage for a night of star power, spectacle and bold cinema.

For the second consecutive year, late-night icon Conan O’Brien returns as host, promising his signature mix of sharp wit, self-aware humor and genuine reverence for the craft of filmmaking. His comeback signals continuity after a well-received debut, as the Academy leans into familiarity while highlighting a notably adventurous slate of nominees.

This year’s race reflects striking creative confidence. Auteur filmmakers dominate the marquee categories, with projects spanning intimate literary adaptations, large-scale studio spectacles and politically charged international works. From Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia to Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, and from Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another to Chloé Zhao’s lyrical Hamnet, the 2026 Oscars showcase an industry increasingly comfortable rewarding bold vision alongside commercial power.

The acting categories are equally electric, pitting established Oscar favorites against performers redefining their screen personas. Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emma Stone face formidable competition from global talents like Wagner Moura and Renate Reinsve, while the supporting races brim with prestige names and scene-stealing turns. Beyond the spotlight categories, the crafts reflect the same ambition — from lavish costume worlds to daring cinematography and immersive sound design.

International cinema and animation enjoy a strong presence this year. Norway’s Sentimental Value and Brazil’s The Secret Agent appear across multiple categories, while animated contenders balance beloved franchises with inventive new storytelling. Documentary selections underscore the Academy’s continued focus on urgent political realities and deeply personal human stories.

As Hollywood gathers once more under the lights, the 2026 Oscars promise a night that celebrates not just stars, but storytellers — artists pushing cinema forward while honoring its enduring power.

Nominees in the major categories:

Best Picture

• Bugonia (Focus Features) — Producers: Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone, Lars Knudsen

• F1 (Apple) — Producers: Chad Oman, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Joseph Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer

• Frankenstein (Netflix) — Producers: Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale, Scott Stuber

• Hamnet (Focus Features) — Producers: Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg, Sam Mendes

• Marty Supreme (A24) — Producers: Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Anthony Katagas, Timothée Chalamet

• One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) — Producers: Adam Somner, Sara Murphy, Paul Thomas Anderson

• The Secret Agent (Neon) — Producer: Emilie Lesclaux

• Sentimental Value (Neon) — Producers: Maria Ekerhovd, Andrea Berentsen Ottmar

• Sinners (Warner Bros.) — Producers: Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ryan Coogler

• Train Dreams (Netflix) — Producers: Marissa McMahon, Teddy Schwarzman, Will Janowitz, Ashley Schlaifer, Michael Heimler

Best Director

• Chloé Zhao — Hamnet

• Josh Safdie — Marty Supreme

• Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another

• Joachim Trier — Sentimental Value

• Ryan Coogler — Sinners

Best Actor

• Timothée Chalamet — Marty Supreme

• Leonardo DiCaprio — One Battle After Another

• Ethan Hawke — Blue Moon

• Michael B. Jordan — Sinners

• Wagner Moura — The Secret Agent

Best Actress

• 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

Best Supporting Actor

• 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

• Elle Fanning — Sentimental Value

• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas — Sentimental Value

• Amy Madigan — Weapons

• Wunmi Mosaku — Sinners

• Teyana Taylor — One Battle After Another

Best Original Score

• Bugonia

• Frankenstein

• Hamnet

• One Battle After Another

• Sinners

Best Costume Design

• Avatar: Fire and Ash

• Frankenstein

• Hamnet

• Marty Supreme

• Sinners

Best Original Song

• “Dear Me” — Diane Warren: Relentless

• “Golden” — KPop Demon Hunters

• “Highest 2 Lowest” — Highest 2 Lowest

• “I Lied To You” — Sinners

• “Sweet Dreams of Joy” — Viva Verdi!

• “Train Dreams” — Train Dreams

Best International Feature

• Brazil — The Secret Agent

• France — It Was Just an Accident

• Norway — Sentimental Value

• Spain — Sirât

• Tunisia — The Voice of Hind Rajab

Best Animated Feature

• Arco

• Elio

• KPop Demon Hunters

• Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

• Zootopia 2

Best Production Design

• Frankenstein — Tamara Deverell

• Hamnet — Fiona Crombie

• Marty Supreme — Jack Fisk

• One Battle After Another — Florencia Martin

• Sinners — Hannah Beachler; Set Decoration: Monique Champagne

Best Cinematography

• Frankenstein — Dan Laustsen

• Marty Supreme — Darius Khondji

• One Battle After Another — Michael Bauman

• Sinners — Autumn Dural