The 98th Academy Awards — the Oscars — are considered one of the most awaited events in the world of entertainment, as they acknowledge the most exceptional film from various places around the globe. Even though the official Oscar nominations will not be out until January 22, 2026, the awards season is buzzing already with predictions, shortlists, and early contenders who are going to take over this year’s ceremony.
The following is your entire blog, which is going to be very interesting, still, informative — it will include all the necessary details like dates, trends, etc., as well as an overview of the whole Oscars night when it is about to happen.
Important Oscars 2026 Dates You Should Know
Before we jump into the discussions about the frontrunners and the buzz around the contenders, let us first check the official schedule:
- Oscar nomination voting window: January 12–16, 2026.
- Oscar nominations are announced: January 22, 2026.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony: Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. It will be broadcast live on ABC and in more than 200 territories.
Each year, the Academy members of various branches — actors, directors, writers, and technical crafts — carry out the voting process in complete secrecy, thus ensuring that there is a broad representation of the industry.
Oscar Nominations Race Front Runners and Early Buzz
Though the official nominations are yet to be announced, Oscar awards season is looking to be one of the most fierce and exciting ones in the recent past, very much like the ones that came before it. Meanwhile, a small number of films that have been winning the critics’ awards, the guild nominations, and the shortlists — all strong indicators of Oscar nods — are being closely watched by critics and pundits.
Major Contenders Already Creating Ripples
One Contest After the Other
This action drama, which is directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and has Leonardo DiCaprio as the lead, has come forward as the most nominated film at various precursor awards and is anticipated to lead the Oscar nominations. It set a record with seven nominations, winning at the SAG Actor Awards (previously known as SAG Awards), including nominations for its ensemble cast and multiple acting categories.
At the Critics’ Choice Awards, the movie also took home the Oscars and Best Director award,s which further pushed its Oscar momentum.
Sinners
Ryan Coogler’s direction and Michael B. Jordan’s dual role have made Sinners a film of critics and spectators’ sensations. The movie, for its part, has received numerous nominations and awards during the awards season and is now majorly shortlisted in the Academy categories.
Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro’s version of the classic tale continues to be appreciated for its technical superiority and dramatic depth, which is why it is constantly taking spots on various Oscar shortlists.
Hamnet & Marty Supreme
The two movies — Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, and Marty Supreme, with a notable performance by Timothée Chalamet — have both juggled critical buzz and awards attention. Their being among the significant contenders denotes both the diversity and the quality of this year’s nominee pool.
Up-and-comers and Surprises
Apart from the top tier, films like F1, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Tron: Ares, and Wicked: For Good are already in the Oscars’ shortlists for different categories — Visual Effects, Original Song, and Cinematography — which are all potential nomination categories. Oscar Nominations 2025
The Oscar Nominations Shortlists’ Implications
The Academy published early shortlists in 12 categories in December 2025 — including Animated Short, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound, Original Song, and International Feature Film. These shortlists limit the field of nominees and give a preview of the films that are very likely to get nominated.
Some important movies that made it to these shortlists are:
Avatar: Fire and Ash — very likely to be seen in VFX and technical categories.
Superman and Tron: Ares — got nominated in VFX, pointing to the recognition of blockbusters.
Wicked: For Good — a very strong candidate for Original Song.
The shortlists portray a very broad view of the different genres that the Academy might recognize, ranging from indie drama to big-budget spectacle.
The Acting Race Highlights
Even though the official nominations are still not out, the critics’ awards and the guild recognition often reveal the strongest acting contenders. Taking into consideration recent awards and buzz:
- Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) has won Best Actor at the Critics’ Choice Awards, thus increasing his Oscars odds.
- Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) was awarded Best Actress at Critics Choice, thus making her one of the most likely candidates during Oscar nominations.
- The performances of all, including DiCaprio, Chase Infiniti, and others, stand a good chance of getting the SAG award due to the strong nominations.
The other two acting categories, namely Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress, are certain to see nominations coming from Sinners, Frankenstein, and other contenders on the list of the season’s favorite films.
What to Expect on Nomination Day
When the Academy reveals the Oscar nominations on January 22, film fans and industry observers will receive the complete breakdown across all categories, including:
- Best Picture — a maximum of 10 films
- Acting Categories — Best Actor, Best Actress, Supporting categories
- Directing & Writing
- Technical fields — Cinematography, Editing, Sound, Visual Effects, etc.
- Music — Original Score & Original Song
- International Feature Film and Documentary prizes
The voting is over, and the shortlists are setting up the expectations. This year’s Oscar race is likely to be full of both expected winners and possible surprises.
Importance of Oscar Nominations
Being nominated for the Academy Award is an accolade that both talented movie makers and actors would like to have. For the studios, being nominated has a positive effect on box office and streaming; the creative community, it is often the case of being defined by the moment of their career. For the public, the Oscars create a universal discussion about the film industry, considering the culture, technology, and artistry involved.
Oscar Night with the 98th Academy Awards
The 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, will present the nominations in the form of glamorous red carpet happenings, touching speeches, and unforgettable artistic celebrations. Whether you are supporting dramatic masterworks, technical wonders, or indie hits, this year’s Oscar 2026 race is going to be an exciting adventure from nominations to winners.
Keep your eyes open for the complete nominations list, which we will be updating as soon as they are announced on January 22!
