98th Academy Awards
Official poster for the 98th Academy Awards
Official poster
Date March 15, 2026
Site Dolby Theatre
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Hosted by Conan O'Brien
Preshow hosts Matt Friend[1]
Produced by Raj Kapoor
Katy Mullan
Directed by Hamish Hamilton
Highlights
Most nominations Sinners (16)
TV in the United States
Network Broadcast:
ABC
Streaming:
Hulu
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The 98th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, United States. During the gala, the AMPAS will present Academy Awards (commonly referred to as Oscars) in 24 categories, honoring films released in 2025. The ceremony will be televised in the United States by ABC and streamed on Hulu.[2] Comedian Conan O'Brien is set to host the show for the second consecutive time, after receiving acclaim for hosting the previous year, with Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan returning as executive producers for the third consecutive year, and Hamish Hamilton returning as director.[2][3][4][5]

In related events, the Academy held its 16th Governors Awards ceremony at the Ray Dolby Ballroom of the Ovation Hollywood complex in Hollywood on November 16, 2025.[6] The Academy Scientific and Technical Awards will be presented on April 28, 2026, in a ceremony at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.[7]

This year, Best Casting will be presented as a new category, bringing the total number of competitive Oscar categories to 24.[8]

Key dates

Upcoming dates leading up to the 98th Academy Awards[a][9]
Date Event
March 15, 2026 Ceremony
April 28, 2026 Scientific and Technical Awards

Nominees

The nominees for the 98th Academy Awards were announced on January 22, 2026, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, by actress Danielle Brooks and actor Lewis Pullman.[10][11][12]

The sixteen nominations received by Sinners are the most in Oscar history, surpassing the previous record of fourteen shared by All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016).[13][14][15] It also broke the record for most Black individuals nominated for a single film at ten.[16] The film's studio, Warner Bros. Pictures, earned thirty nominations, tying its own record set in 2005.[17] Multiple film critics and journalists praised the breakthrough of nominations, applauding the Academy for embracing Black cinema and the horror genre.[b]

At the age of 30, Timothée Chalamet became the youngest actor to earn three acting nominations since Marlon Brando, and also the youngest person to be nominated for both acting and producing in the same year, surpassing Warren Beatty.[23] Wagner Moura became the first Brazilian nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role.[16] Stellan Skarsgård became the first actor nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for a non-English language international feature film.[16]

The 40-year span between Amy Madigan's first nomination, for her supporting role in Twice in a Lifetime (1985), and her second, for Weapons, set the record for the longest gap between Oscar nominations for an actress.[24] Ruth E. Carter became the most-nominated Black woman, across any category, with her fifth nomination for Best Costume Design.[25] Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the fourth woman and the first woman of color nominated for Best Cinematography.[26] Chloé Zhao became the second woman, following Jane Campion, and the first woman of color to be nominated for Best Director twice, as well as the first woman who previously won.[16] With nine nominations for Best Picture, Dede Gardner became the most-nominated female producer, breaking her tie with Kathleen Kennedy.[16]

Awards

Nominees are listed in alphabetical order.[27]

Governors Awards

The Academy held its 16th annual Governors Awards ceremony on November 16, 2025, during which the following awards were presented:[6]

Academy Honorary Awards

  • Debbie Allen – "A trailblazing choreographer and actor, whose work has captivated generations and crossed genres".[28]
  • Tom Cruise – For his "incredible commitment to [the] filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community".[28]
  • Wynn Thomas – "Production designer [who] has brought some of the most enduring films to life through a visionary eye and mastery of his craft".[28]

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

  • Dolly Parton – A "beloved performer [who] exemplifies the spirit of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award through her unwavering dedication to charitable efforts".[28]

Films with multiple nominations

Films with multiple nominations
Nominations Film
16 Sinners
13 One Battle After Another
9 Frankenstein
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value
8 Hamnet
4 Bugonia
F1
The Secret Agent
Train Dreams
2 Avatar: Fire and Ash
Blue Moon
It Was Just an Accident
KPop Demon Hunters
Sirāt

Presenters and performers

The following individuals will present awards or perform musical numbers:[c]

Presenters
Name(s) Role
Will Arnett TBA
Javier Bardem TBA
Adrien Brody TBA
Priyanka Chopra Jonas TBA
Kieran Culkin TBA
Robert Downey Jr. TBA
Chris Evans TBA
Anne Hathaway TBA
Chase Infiniti TBA
Mikey Madison TBA
Paul Mescal TBA
Demi Moore TBA
Kumail Nanjiani TBA
Gwyneth Paltrow TBA
Maya Rudolph TBA
Zoe Saldaña TBA
Performers
Name Role Performance
TBA TBA "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters
TBA TBA "I Lied to You" from Sinners

Ceremony information

Photo of Conan O'Brien in January 2025.
Conan O'Brien will host the 98th Academy Awards.

Beginning with this ceremony, the Academy will enforce rules ensuring that all members have watched every nominated film in each category before voting in the final round.[33]

In March 2025, the Academy hired television producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, for the third year in a row, to oversee production of the 2026 ceremony, with comedian and former talk show host Conan O'Brien as host of the event for the second consecutive year. Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney, long-time collaborators of O'Brien, will also return as producers for a second time; Sweeney will also serve as a writer.[2] "We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff, and Mike for the 98th Oscars," said AMPAS CEO Bill Kramer and AMPAS President Janet Yang in a press release. "[Last] year, they produced a hugely entertaining and visually stunning show that celebrated our nominees and the global film community in the most beautiful and impactful way. Conan was the perfect host — skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence. It is an honor to be working with them again."[2] In response, Kapoor and Mullan stated in a press release, "We are both so honored to be returning in our roles for the 98th Oscars. We can't wait to work with Conan and his entire team as we continue to explore even more special and heartfelt opportunities to celebrate next year's nominees and the impact of film around the world."[2]

As for the production team, returning to the telecast are Hamish Hamilton as director, Rob Paine as co-executive producer, Sarah Levine Hall and Taryn Hurd as producers, Mandy Moore as supervising choreographer, and Michael Bearden as music director; production designers Alana Billingsley and Misty Buckley, and lighting designers Bob Dickinson and Noah Mitz are also returning.[3] Collaborating with O'Brien and Sweeney as writers include Amberia Allen, José Arroyo, Josh Comers, Dan Cronin, Jessie Gaskell, Skyler Higley, Berkley Johnson, Ian Karmel, Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Carol Leifer, Todd Levin, Jon Macks, Matt O'Brien, and Agathe Panaretos.[3]

For the third consecutive year, comedian and journalist Amelia Dimoldenberg will serve as the social media ambassador and red carpet correspondent for the Oscars' online outlets. Dimoldenberg will participate in multiple key events throughout awards season, culminating in interviews with nominees and talent on the Oscars red carpet.[34]

Due to time constraints and broader structural changes to the telecast, only two of the five nominees for Best Original Song will be performed live during the gala, those being "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters and "I Lied to You" from Sinners.[32] In a letter sent to all music nominees and obtained exclusively by Variety, the Academy emphasized that the category will remain fully integrated into the broadcast, even as live performances are limited to "Golden" and "I Lied to You". The letter was signed by Kapoor and Mullan, along with producer Taryn Hurd; the Academy declined to comment.[32] According to the Academy, each nominated song will be introduced through a custom-produced segment built from footage of the film it was written for, with the goal of grounding each song in its cinematic context. Those packages may also incorporate behind-the-scenes material offering insight into the songwriting process and creative intent. The producing team also noted that nominees will receive additional promotional support across its official social media platforms, pointing to recent Spotify collaborations and the nominations announcement as examples of that outreach. The performances will be framed as segments designed to honor how music helped those stories resonate worldwide while the remaining nominees will be recognized through the bespoke film-based packages rather than live musical numbers.[32] This decision was condemned by nominee Diane Warren, nominated for her original song "Dear Me" from the documentary feature film Diane Warren: Relentless, stating, "It is unfair to me and my fellow nominees because you just excluded three songs and chose two. It is my fellow artists who deserve the respect which comes from a nomination [...] It is all of us or none of us and that is what it should be."[35]

On March 4, 2026, Variety reported that Barbra Streisand was in talks to perform during the in memoriam segment to honor Robert Redford, who died in September 2025.[36] Additionally, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are set to honor Rob Reiner, who died in December 2025.[37]

Expansion

Main article: Academy Award for Achievement in Casting

Beginning with this ceremony, the AMPAS will present a new competitive award that will honor casting directors. The Academy Award for Best Casting is the first new Oscar category introduced since Best Animated Feature in 2001.[38] On February 8, 2024, the AMPAS announced the creation of the category, saying: "Casting directors play an essential role in filmmaking, and as the Academy evolves, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines that we recognize and celebrate." Nominees were determined by the Casting Directors Branch within the Academy, which was established in July 2013 and totaled nearly 160 members at the time of the award's announcement.[38] A category to award achievement in casting had previously been rejected by the Academy in 1999.[39]

In February 2026, during a panel discussion, four of the first five nominees in the category acknowledged and celebrated the recognition of the new category.[40] "I think it's kind of sad that it took that long," said Cassandra Kulukundis, nominated for One Battle After Another, adding, "I'm realizing on this journey that people really don't understand what [casting directors] do. It's the same as anything [...] You study for hours, you know the history, you know the looks."[40] Francine Maisler, nominated for Sinners, said, "Casting directors are amazing people who lift other people up. That we're being lifted up at this moment means a lot to us and all of those casting directors that came before us."[40]

Notes

  1. ^ All dates are subject to change[9]
  2. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[18][19][20][21][22]
  3. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[29][30][31][32]

See also

  • List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature
  • List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature
  • List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film

References

  1. ^ Gardner, Chris (February 6, 2026). "Matt Friend to Host Academy Awards Red Carpet for 'Live with Kelly and Mark' and Appear on Post-Show". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e Davis, Clayton (March 17, 2025). "Conan O'Brien to Return as Oscars Host for 98th Ceremony Set for March". Variety. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Hammond, Pete (February 3, 2026). "Oscar Producers Announce Team; Hamish Hamilton to Return as Director". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  4. ^ Patton, Tess (February 3, 2026). "Oscars Unveil Production Team, Director and Writing Staff for 2026 Ceremony". TheWrap. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  5. ^ Remnick, David (February 20, 2026). "Conan O'Brien is Ready for the Oscars". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
  6. ^ a b Thompson, Anne (November 17, 2025). "At the Governors Awards, Celebrating Tom Cruise While Reckoning with an Uncertain Future". IndieWire. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  7. ^ "2026 Scientific and Technical Awards Call for Submissions" (Press release). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. June 12, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  8. ^ "Academy Establishes Casting Award for 98th Oscars" (Press release). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. February 8, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  9. ^ a b "98th Oscars and Academy Key Dates" (Press release). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  10. ^ Evans, Greg (January 15, 2026). "Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman to Announce 2026 Oscar Nominations Next Week". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  11. ^ Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (January 22, 2026). "Oscar Nominations 2026: 'Sinners' Dominates with 16 Nods, 'One Battle After Another' Follows with 13". Variety. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  12. ^ Wiseman, Andreas; Hipes, Patrick (January 22, 2026). "Oscar Nominations: 'Sinners' Leads the Way with Record 16, 'One Battle' Next with 13 (Full List)". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  13. ^ Canfield, David (January 22, 2026). "'Sinners' Gets Most Oscar Nominations Ever". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  14. ^ Salam, Maya (January 22, 2026). "3 Films Used to Hold the Record for Oscar Nominations (Thanks to Some Quirks)". The New York Times. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  15. ^ Davis, Clayton (January 22, 2026). "'Sinners' Breaks All-Time Oscar Nomination Record with 16 Nods". Variety. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  16. ^ a b c d e Davis, Clayton (January 22, 2026). "Oscars Diversity Report: 'Sinners' Ties Record for Most Black Nominees from a Single Film, Plus Milestones for Chloé Zhao, Guillermo del Toro, and More". Variety. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  17. ^ McClintock, Pamela (January 22, 2026). "Oscars: Warner Bros. Wows with 30 Nominations as Other Major Studios Snubbed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  18. ^ Schimkowitz, Matt (January 22, 2026). "'Sinners' Historic Oscar Breakthrough Spotlights An Evolved Academy". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  19. ^ Genai, Shanelle (January 22, 2026). "Oscar Nominations: 'Sinners' Showed Out and More Black Surprises". The Root. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  20. ^ "16 Oscar Nods for 'Sinners' Signals a Broader Appetite for Imaginative Black Cinema". The Conversation. February 1, 2026. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  21. ^ Travis, Ben (January 22, 2026). "The Oscars Have Finally Embraced Horror – And It's Worth Screaming About". Empire. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  22. ^ Tsintziras, Aya (January 22, 2026). "After 76 Years, 'Sinners' Breaking the Biggest Record in Oscars History Makes Perfect Sense". MovieWeb. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  23. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 22, 2026). "Timothée Chalamet Becomes Youngest Male Actor to Score 3 Oscar Nominations Since Marlon Brando". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  24. ^ Hood, Cooper (January 22, 2026). "Amy Madigan Makes Oscars History with 'Weapons' Nomination, Breaking 55-Year-Old Record". Screen Rant. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  25. ^ Davis, Clayton (January 22, 2026). "'Sinners' Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter Becomes Most-Nominated Black Woman in Oscar History". Variety. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
  26. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (January 22, 2026). "'Sinners' DP Autumn Durald Arkapaw Makes Oscar History as First Woman of Color Nominated for Best Cinematography". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  27. ^ "The 98th Academy Awards | (2026)". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  28. ^ a b c d "The Academy to Honor Debbie Allen, Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton, and Wynn Thomas at the 2025 Governors Awards" (Press release). Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. June 17, 2025. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  29. ^ Davis, Clayton (February 19, 2026). "Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Zoe Saldaña, and Kieran Culkin Set as First Presenters for 98th Oscars". Variety. Archived from the original on February 20, 2026. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  30. ^ Lewis, Hilary (February 26, 2026). "Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore, Javier Bardem and Chris Evans Join Oscars Presenters". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  31. ^ Victorian, Brande (March 5, 2026). "Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway Added to Oscar Presenters Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  32. ^ a b c d Davis, Clayton (January 30, 2026). "Only Two Original Song Nominees to Perform Live at Oscars, Academy Producers Tell Nominees (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  33. ^ Davis, Clayton (April 22, 2025). "Oscars New Voting Rule Explained: How the Academy Plans to Enforce Mandatory Viewing". Variety. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  34. ^ Feinberg, Scott (January 26, 2026). "Amelia Dimoldenberg Set for Third Stint as Oscars' Social Media Ambassador and Red Carpet Correspondent". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  35. ^ Hammond, Pete (January 30, 2026). "Diane Warren Speaks Out, Says 'Put All the Songs On or None of Us' After Oscar Producers Ax 3 Nominated Songs from Live Performance". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
  36. ^ Malkin, Marc (March 4, 2026). "Barbra Streisand in Talks for Oscars Performance to Honor Robert Redford". Variety. Archived from the original on March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  37. ^ Malkin, Marc (March 4, 2026). "Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan to Reunite at Oscars for Rob Reiner Tribute; New Details Revealed". Variety. Archived from the original on March 5, 2026. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  38. ^ a b Hammond, Pete (February 8, 2024). "Motion Picture Academy Creates Casting Category, First New Competitive Oscar Since 2001". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  39. ^ Conradt, Stacy (February 18, 2010). "10 Bygone (or Rejected) Academy Awards Categories". Mental Floss. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  40. ^ a b c Loving, Casey (February 13, 2026). "Oscar-Nominated Casting Directors Celebrate Academy's New Category: 'People Really Don't Understand What We Do' | Video". TheWrap. Retrieved February 15, 2026.

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