Only a few hours left until the big night! The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Monday, March 16, 2026, from 01:00 to 04:00 Cyprus time at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This ceremony celebrates films released in 2025 and is sure to grab the attention of the global film community.
Conan O’Brien will host the event for the second year in a row, following his successful turn last year.
The Phenomenal Film of the Year
This year’s top nominee is Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which has an impressive 16 nominations, breaking an Oscar record.
This beats the previous record held by La La Land, Titanic, and All About Eve.
The film mixes horror with blues music and tackles important social issues. Its buzz grew even more after news that the director could reclaim the film’s rights after 25 years.
Surprises and Omissions
This year’s nominations had their share of surprises and snubs.
Paul Mescal missed out on a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Hamnet, and Chase Infinity was also left out for Best Actress in One Battle After Another.
Jesse Plemons for Bugonia and Joel Edgerton for Train Dreams didn’t make the final cut either.
A big surprise was that Wicked: For Good received no nominations, and Ariana Grande’s song from The Girl in the Bubble was also snubbed.
On the flip side, F1: The Movie making it into Best Picture was one of the biggest shocks of the year.
New Category at the Oscars
This year introduces a major change: a new Best Casting category!
This award honors casting directors who choose actors and shape a film’s cast. It’s the first new competitive category added to the Oscars in over 20 years.
The Favorites in Major Categories
Best Picture
The favorite is Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, with odds at 76%.
Sinners is its main competitor and has strong momentum.
Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson is almost guaranteed to win for One Battle After Another, with a prediction rate of about 95%.
Best Actor
This category is very competitive. Michael B. Jordan for Sinners is currently leading over Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme.
Best Actress
Jessie Buckley for Hamnet is seen as the most “locked” award this year, having already won BAFTA, Critics’ Choice, and SAG awards.
Best Supporting Actor
Sean Penn is leading for his role in One Battle After Another.
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Madigan for Weapons is leading, although the category is considered one of the most wide-open of the night.
This year’s Academy Awards ceremony is expected to be one of the most interesting in recent years, featuring a historical record of nominations, new categories, and several unpredictable developments.
