2026 Oscar predictions: Best picture, director, actors, screenplay & everything else

S.J.
8 hours ago
4 min read

Actors and characters from the movies discussed in the article. — Warner Bros. Pictures | Focus Features | Neon | A24

The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled to be presented on March 15, 2026; the nominations were announced on January 22, 2026. Below, you can find our predictions in all categories.

And since we love movies, in addition to the predicted nominees, there are also the ''should win'' shouts for films, performers and filmmakers that we have seen and would love to see recognised. Browse through them and perhaps you'll also find some help for your own predictions (or something to add to your watchlist).

Last updated: February 17th, 2026

BEST PICTURE

Nominees

Bugonia

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sentimental Value

Sinners

The Secret Agent

Train Dreams

Will Win

Sinners

Should Win

Sinners

BEST DIRECTOR

Nominees

Chloé Zhao (Hamnet)

Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value)

Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme)

Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

Will Win

Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)

Should Win

Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

BEST ACTRESS

Nominees

Emma Stone (Bugonia)

Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)

Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue)

Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value)

Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You)

Will Win

Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)

Should Win

Abstain

BEST ACTOR

Nominees

Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)

Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another)

Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)

Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)

Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)

Will Win

Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)

Should Win

Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Nominees

Amy Madigan (Weapons)

Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value)

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value)

Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)

Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners)

Will Win

Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)

Should Win

Amy Madigan (Weapons)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Nominees

Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another)

Delroy Lindo (Sinners)

Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein)

Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)

Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)

Will Win

Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)

Should Win

Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Nominees

Blue Moon (Robert Kaplow)

It Was Just An Accident (Jafar Panahi)

Marty Supreme (Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein)

Sentimental Value (Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier)

Sinners (Ryan Coogler)

Will Win

Sinners (Ryan Coogler)

Should Win

Sinners (Ryan Coogler)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Nominees

Bugonia (Will Tracy)

Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro)

Hamnet (Chloé Zhao, Maggie O'Farrell)

One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)

Train Dreams (Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar)

Will Win

One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)

Should Win

One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM*

Nominees

It Was Just An Accident (France)

Sentimental Value (Norway)

Sirāt (Spain)

The Secret Agent (Brazil)

The Voice Of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)

Will Win

Sentimental Value (Norway)

Should Win

Sirāt (Spain)

*This category needs an overhaul immediately, starting with giving the award to the director(s) and producer(s) instead of the country, and changing the submission system so that films won't be excluded for political reasons.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Nominees

Arco

Elio

KPop Demon Hunters*

Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain

Zootopia 2

Will Win

KPop Demon Hunters*

Should Win

Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain

*These films were seemingly straight-to-streaming releases so they shouldn't qualify here.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM

Nominees

Come See Me In The Good Light

Cutting Through Rocks

Mr. Nobody Against Putin

The Alabama Solution

The Perfect Neighbor

Will Win

The Perfect Neighbor

Should Win

The Perfect Neighbor

BEST CASTING*

Nominees

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners

The Secret Agent

Will Win

Sinners

Should Win

Sinners

*This is a new category, so it is quite disappointing that it's just another category where best picture nominees can rack up nominations. It could use a bit more personality.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Nominees

Frankenstein

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Train Dreams

Will Win

Train Dreams

Should Win

Train Dreams

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Nominees

Avatar: Fire And Ash

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

Sinners

Will Win

Frankenstein

Should Win

Frankenstein

BEST FILM EDITING

Nominees

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sentimental Value

Sinners

Will Win

Should Win

One Battle After Another

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Nominees

Frankenstein

Kokuho

Sinners

The Smashing Machine

The Ugly Stepsister

Will Win

Frankenstein

Should Win

Frankenstein

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Nominees

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Will Win

Frankenstein

Should Win

Frankenstein

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE*

Nominees

Bugonia

Frankenstein

Hamnet

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Will Win

Sinners

Should Win

Sinners

*This branch needs to broaden its horizons now and not tomorrow.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG*

Nominees

Diane Warren's latest beg for mercy (Diane Warren: Relentless)

'Golden' (KPop Demon Hunters)

'I Lied To You' (Sinners)

'Sweet Dreams Of Joy' (Viva Verdi!)

'Train Dreams' (Train Dreams)

Will Win

'Golden' (KPop Demon Hunters)

Should Win

'I Lied To You' (Sinners)

*I think we can all agree that this category has become absolutely antiquated and, frankly, an embarrassment at this point due to its favouritism and staleness. Let's just give it a merciful death.

BEST SOUND

Nominees

Frankenstein

One Battle After Another

Sinners

Sirāt

Will Win

Should Win

Sirāt

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Nominees

Avatar: Fire And Ash