Watch more here
Oscars 2026: Record-Breaking Vampire Film Takes On Critics' Favourite in Battle for Best Picture
The 98th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre on 15 March 2026, and this year's ceremony comes at an important time for Hollywood. The film industry is juggling its traditional glamour with the realities of streaming and digital viewing, whilst the nominees include both big-budget blockbusters and quieter, character-focused dramas.
After last year's successful ceremony that saw viewing figures bounce back, host Conan O'Brien is returning for a second year. He's proven he can balance cheeky humour with respect for the industry. The 2026 show will also stream live on Hulu as well as airing on ABC—a nod to how most people now prefer to watch on their own terms rather than traditional telly.
This year's race is dominated by two very different films. Ryan Coogler's *Sinners*, a vampire story set during the Jim Crow era, has smashed records with 16 nominations. It's rare for a horror film to get this much Academy love, but it's proved that genre films with something to say can win over voters. Its main rival is Paul Thomas Anderson's *One Battle After Another*, which didn't do well at the box office but critics adore it. The film has 13 nominations and is seen as the thinking person's choice for Best Picture.
The acting races have been fascinating, especially after the recent Screen Actors Guild Awards, which usually predict the Oscar winners. Jessie Buckley looks nailed-on for Best Actress after her performance as Agnes Shakespeare in *Hamnet*. She's already won the Golden Globe and BAFTA, and her SAG win makes her the first Irish actress to sweep the category like this. The Best Actor race is much tighter. Michael B. Jordan is the favourite for his double role in *Sinners*, but Timothée Chalamet could upset him. At 30, Chalamet has become the youngest actor since Marlon Brando to get three Oscar nominations.
Beyond the individual awards, this year marks some important milestones. There's a new Best Casting category—the first new competitive award in 25 years—finally recognising the people who put together a film's cast. The nominations also show a record number of Black artists being recognised, with 10 nominations going to people involved in *Sinners*. However, the Women's Media Center notes there's still work to do—whilst women now make up 31% of nominees in technical categories, the industry hasn't yet reached equal representation behind the camera.
As the final votes are counted, the 2026 Oscars feels less like a foregone conclusion and more like a genuine celebration of different types of cinema. Whether the night belongs to a record-breaking box-office hit or a critically acclaimed art film, this ceremony looks set to be one for the history books.
*This article was created by AI and checked by journalists.*