2026 Oscar Nominations Deliver Major Snubs and Historic Surprises
The Academy has spoken, and as usual, the Oscar nominations have left as many people stunned as satisfied. When the 98th Academy Awards nominations were announced, the list immediately sparked debate thanks to a mix of historic wins, baffling omissions, and a few long-awaited moments of recognition. While one film rewrote the record books, several highly anticipated contenders were nowhere to be found.
A Record-Breaking Morning for Sinners
The biggest headline belonged to Sinners, which surged ahead of the competition with an unprecedented 16 Oscar nominations, the most ever received by a single film. The achievement cements the movie as the clear front-runner heading into March and signals overwhelming support from Academy voters across multiple branches. Acting, directing, technical categories, and best picture all fell into Sinners’ grasp, making it the rare film with strength across the board.
Among its most notable nominations was Delroy Lindo’s surprise inclusion in the Best Supporting Actor race. Lindo, long respected but often overlooked by awards bodies, earned his first-ever Oscar nomination after missing out at earlier ceremonies like the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards. His nod stood out even more given that he appeared to edge out one of the season’s presumed locks.
The Complete Shutout of Wicked: For Good
If Sinners represented Oscar excess, Wicked: For Good symbolized awards-season heartbreak. Despite heavy expectations, the sequel failed to receive a single nomination. That result was particularly shocking given the success of the first Wicked film, which earned 10 nominations just a year earlier.
The most discussed omissions were Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, both of whom had been considered strong contenders. Grande was widely expected to land a Best Supporting Actress nomination after appearing consistently throughout the precursor circuit, while Erivo had been positioned as a Best Actress possibility. Their absence marked a dramatic reversal of fortune for a franchise that seemed firmly embraced by the Academy just one year ago.
High-Profile Acting Snubs Raise Eyebrows
Paul Mescal’s omission was another jolt. The actor had swept up nominations all season for his portrayal of a grieving William Shakespeare in Hamnet, making his absence from the final Oscar lineup particularly surprising. Many expected the performance to earn Mescal his second career nomination following Aftersun.
Also left out were Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt for Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine. Both actors received Golden Globe nominations for their performances, but the Academy declined to follow suit. The film’s muted box office performance may have dampened its momentum despite strong critical support.
George Clooney and Adam Sandler faced a similar fate for Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly. The Hollywood-set drama failed to connect with Academy voters in any acting categories, continuing a disappointing awards run after earlier losses at other major ceremonies.
Kate Hudson’s Long-Awaited Return
One of the morning’s brightest surprises came from Kate Hudson, who earned a Best Actress nomination for Song Sung Blue. Her performance as part of a real-life Neil Diamond tribute duo marked her first Oscar nomination in 25 years. Hudson was last recognized in 2001 for Almost Famous, making her return to the Oscar stage a rare and emotional milestone.
Another Breakout Left Behind
Chase Infiniti, one of the season’s most talked-about newcomers, also failed to make the cut. Despite earning nominations at the Golden Globes and Actor Awards for One Battle After Another, Infiniti was left out of the Best Actress race even as her film dominated the overall nominations tally.
Looking Ahead to Oscar Night
With nominations settled, attention now turns to the ceremony itself. Conan O’Brien will return as host when the Academy Awards air live on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu. Whether Sinners can convert its historic nomination haul into wins, and whether any of this year’s snubs spark lasting debate, will soon be revealed.
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