The 2026 edition of the Academy Awards is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable ceremonies in recent years, with Sinners and One Battle After Another emerging as the leading contenders for the Best Picture award.
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The ceremony will be hosted by Conan O’Brien and will feature musical performances and tributes as Hollywood’s biggest stars gather in Los Angeles for the annual event.
Industry experts say the Best Picture race remains too close to call. According to Clayton Davis, awards columnist at Variety, the winner may not be clear until the final envelope is opened.
“Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler, has already made Oscars history with 16 nominations. The film could challenge the all-time record for the most Academy Awards won by a single movie — 11 — currently shared by Ben-Hur, Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
If Coogler wins Best Director, he would become the first Black filmmaker to receive the honor in the nearly century-long history of the Oscars.
Meanwhile, “One Battle After Another,” directed by acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, has received 13 nominations. Despite being widely regarded as one of the most influential directors in modern American cinema, Anderson has yet to win an Oscar despite several nominations for films such as There Will Be Blood and Boogie Nights.
The acting categories are also expected to be highly competitive. Timothée Chalamet had been considered a frontrunner for Best Actor for his role in Marty Supreme, but recent controversies have weakened his chances.
This has opened the door for Michael B. Jordan, who delivered a widely praised dual performance in “Sinners” and recently won the Screen Actors Guild award. Other strong contenders include Leonardo DiCaprio for “One Battle After Another” and Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon.
In the supporting actor category, Sean Penn is competing for a potential third Oscar against Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value and Delroy Lindo for “Sinners.”
The supporting actress category includes nominees such as Amy Madigan for Weapons, Teyana Taylor for “One Battle After Another,” and Wunmi Mosaku for “Sinners.”
However, the strongest favorite among the acting races appears to be Jessie Buckley for her performance in Hamnet.
The Best International Film category is also expected to be closely contested, with Norway’s Sentimental Value facing competition from Brazil’s political thriller The Secret Agent.
The ceremony will also feature performances from the Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters, including the Oscar-nominated song “Golden,” performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami.
