2026 Oscars Mark Historic Milestones Amidst Surprising Snubs
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The 98th Academy Awards, set for March 15, 2026, have unveiled a slate of nominations that both celebrate historic achievements and spark controversy with unexpected omissions. The film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, has shattered records by earning 16 nominations, the highest ever for a single film. This milestone eclipses the previous record held by classics such as All About Eve, La La Land, and Titanic, each with 14 nominations. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has recognized Sinners across major categories including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Cinematography, and Screenplay.
Among the notable firsts, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the film’s director of photography, became the first woman of color nominated for cinematography and only the third woman ever honored in this category. Costume designer Ruth E. Carter secured her fifth Oscar nomination, making her the most-nominated Black woman in Oscar history. Carter previously made history as the first Black person to win for Best Costume Design with Black Panther in 2019. These achievements underscore a growing recognition of diversity and inclusion within the film industry.
Actors Timothée Chalamet and Emma Stone also made headlines with their dual nominations in acting and producing categories. Chalamet, the youngest male actor since Marlon Brando to receive three Best Actor nominations, was additionally nominated as a producer for Marty Supreme, becoming the youngest person to be nominated for both in the same year. Stone became the first female actor to receive multiple acting and producing nominations simultaneously, joining the ranks of Frances McDormand who achieved this feat in 2020. Stone also earned her seventh nomination, making her the youngest woman to reach this milestone and the second youngest overall behind Walt Disney.
International cinema made significant strides this year. Wagner Moura became the first Brazilian nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Secret Agent, while Stellan Skarsgård achieved a historic nomination as Best Supporting Actor for an international film, Sentimental Value. Additionally, the 2025 drama Sirāt made history with the first all-women sound team nominated for Best Sound. These breakthroughs highlight the Academy’s expanding recognition of global talent.
Music also saw a landmark moment as “Golden,” performed by K-pop artists EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI from the film Demon Hunters, became the first K-pop song ever nominated for an Oscar. The film has already garnered two Golden Globes and is the most viewed movie of all time on Netflix, reflecting the genre’s growing international influence.
However, the nominations were not without controversy. The sequel to the highly successful Wicked film, Wicked: For Good, was completely shut out despite the original earning 10 nominations and two wins last year. Key contributors including Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and director Jon M. Chu were notably absent from the nominations. Similarly, James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, which grossed over a billion dollars worldwide, was excluded from the Best Picture category for the first time in the franchise’s history.
These snubs have sparked conversations about the evolving criteria and tastes of the Academy. For more details on the nomination process and history, visit the official Academy rules. The Academy’s ongoing efforts to diversify and modernize its membership can be explored on the About page of their website.
As anticipation builds for the ceremony, the 2026 Oscars promise to be a landmark event that both honors cinematic artistry and challenges the industry to reflect on its evolving landscape. For updates and official announcements, the Academy’s news portal remains the authoritative source.
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