2026 Oscar Predictions: Expert Picks for 11 Major Categories

The excitement is building as the nominations for the 98th Oscars are set to be revealed. Anticipation surrounds which films will dominate the major categories this year. Will Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” or Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” break the record for the most Oscar nominations with 14, shared by classics like “All About Eve,” “Titanic,” and “La La Land”? The outcome is eagerly awaited.

2026 Oscar Predictions: Major Categories Overview

Best Picture

Here are the likely contenders for Best Picture:

• “Bugonia”
• “Frankenstein”
• “Hamnet”
• “It Was Just an Accident”
• “Marty Supreme”
• “One Battle After Another”
• “The Secret Agent”
• “Sentimental Value”
• “Sinners”
• “Train Dreams”

Best Director

The prominent names expected for Best Director include:

• Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another”
• Ryan Coogler, “Sinners”
• Jafar Panahi, “It Was Just an Accident”
• Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme”
• Chloé Zhao, “Hamnet”

Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” could be a surprise candidate, while Panahi’s nomination seems likely given his international recognition.

Best Actor

Key performances that stand out in the Best Actor category include:

• Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”
• Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another”
• Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon”
• Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”
• Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent”

Best Actress

The Best Actress contenders are:

• Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”
• Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
• Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another”
• Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value”
• Emma Stone, “Bugonia”

Supporting Roles

In the Supporting Actor category:

• Benicio Del Toro, “One Battle After Another”
• Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein”
• Paul Mescal, “Hamnet”
• Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”
• Stellan Skarsgård, “Sentimental Value”

For Supporting Actress, the favorites include:

• Odessa A’zion, “Marty Supreme”
• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, “Sentimental Value”
• Amy Madigan, “Weapons”
• Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners”
• Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another”

Screenplay Categories

For Original Screenplay:

• “It Was Just an Accident,” Jafar Panahi
• “Marty Supreme,” Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein
• “Sorry, Baby,” Eva Victor
• “Sentimental Value,” Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt
• “Sinners,” Ryan Coogler

And for Adapted Screenplay:

• “Bugonia,” Will Tracy
• “Frankenstein,” Guillermo del Toro
• “Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell
• “One Battle After Another,” Paul Thomas Anderson
• “Train Dreams,” Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar

International Feature Film

The potential nominees for Best International Feature include:

• “It Was Just an Accident”
• “The Secret Agent”
• “Sentimental Value”
• “Sirāt”
• “The Voice of Hind Rajab”

Animated Feature

In the animated category, contenders are:

• “Arco”
• “Elio”
• “KPop Demon Hunters”
• “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain”
• “Zootopia 2”

Documentary Feature

Key documentaries expected to receive recognition include:

• “2000 Meters to Andriivka”
• “The Alabama Solution”
• “Cover-Up”
• “My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 — Last Air in Moscow”
• “The Perfect Neighbor”

The buzz around the 2026 Oscars continues to grow as expectations rise for these major categories. With a mix of established talent and potential surprises, the awards promise to showcase the best of cinema this year.