Lights, Camera, Records! The 98th Oscars could rewrite Hollywood history tonight.
Oscars 2026 Overview
The 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026) will take place tonight, March 15, 2026, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT and streamed on Hulu for online viewers.
Comedian and television host Conan O’Brien returns to host the Oscars for the second consecutive year.
The nominations were officially announced on January 22, 2026, featuring record-breaking films, historic milestones, and a diverse lineup of nominees.
Top Contenders at the 98th Academy Awards
Leading the race is Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller “Sinners”, set in 1930s Mississippi.
The film has made Oscars history with an incredible 16 nominations, the highest number ever received by a single film.
The previous record of 14 nominations was shared by legendary films such as Titanic and La La Land.
“Sinners” dominates multiple major categories including:
- Best Picture
- Best Director – Ryan Coogler
- Best Actor – Michael B. Jordan
- Best Original Screenplay
- Achievement in Casting
Michael B. Jordan earned his first-ever Oscar nomination for playing twin characters Smoke and Stack.
The film also set another record with 10 Black nominees from a single movie.
Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw could become the first woman to win Best Cinematography, while costume designer Ruth E. Carter is close to becoming the first Black artist to win three Oscars.
Best Picture Nominees
Several major films are competing for the biggest prize of the night.
The Best Picture nominees include:
- Sinners
- One Battle After Another
- Bugonia
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Train Dreams
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” follows closely with 13 nominations, including Best Director and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.
Meanwhile, Timothée Chalamet received a Best Actor nomination for Marty Supreme, becoming the youngest actor to be nominated across three acting categories while also producing.
Historic Milestones & Records
The 2026 Oscars have already set multiple industry records. Major highlights include:
- Warner Bros. leading studios with 30 nominations.
- Neon following with 18 nominations.
- Netflix securing 16 nominations.
- “Sinners” setting the record for most nominations in Oscars history.
However, one of the biggest surprises was the musical sequel “Wicked: For Good”, which received zero nominations despite high expectations.
What to Expect From the Ceremony
Hollywood insiders are predicting an intense showdown between Sinners and One Battle After Another for the biggest awards of the night.
Industry watchers are also looking for the possibility of a “Big Five” sweep — Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay — something that rarely happens in Oscar history.
Last year’s ceremony saw Anora take home the Best Picture award, raising expectations for another dramatic and historic Oscars night in 2026.