Hollywood is preparing for one of the most unpredictable editions of the Academy Awards as the 2026 Oscars ceremony takes place Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Two major films — One Battle After Another and Sinners — are widely considered the frontrunners for Best Picture. The former, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, is viewed by many analysts as the favourite, while the latter, directed by Ryan Coogler, leads the nominations with a record 16 nods.
Both filmmakers are expected to secure their first Oscar if their films succeed in the top categories.
The ceremony will once again be hosted by Conan O’Brien and will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu starting at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
While the Best Picture race has attracted the most attention, the Best Actor category is also expected to be highly competitive. Michael B. Jordan and Timothée Chalamet are seen as leading contenders for their performances in “Sinners” and Marty Supreme respectively.
In the Best Actress category, Jessie Buckley is widely expected to win for her performance in Hamnet.
Supporting categories remain closely contested. Amy Madigan is considered a slight favourite for Best Supporting Actress for Weapons, though Teyana Taylor and Wunmi Mosaku are also strong contenders.
Meanwhile, Sean Penn is viewed as a leading candidate for Best Supporting Actor, competing with Stellan Skarsgård and Delroy Lindo.
Security around the event has been increased due to global tensions, including the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States.
The ceremony will also feature musical performances, including the nominated songs “I Lied to You” from “Sinners” and “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters.
Industry observers note that both leading contenders for Best Picture are traditional theatrical releases, highlighting the continued importance of cinema in theatres despite the rise of streaming platforms.
