Lead
The Academy announced the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, with the ceremony set for March 15. Leading the field is Sinners with a record 16 nominations, while One Battle After Another follows with 13 nods. Major acting contenders include Michael B. Jordan and Leonardo DiCaprio; Timothée Chalamet is also nominated, making him a likely youngest contender in the Best Actor category since Adrien Brody’s 2003 win. Conan O’Brien was confirmed to return as host for the March ceremony.
Key Takeaways
- Sinners received 16 nominations, the most in this year’s slate and a new record for the Academy’s current nomination format.
- One Battle After Another earned 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.
- Michael B. Jordan was nominated for Best Actor for his role in Sinners; Timothée Chalamet received a Best Actor nomination for Marty Supreme.
- The nominations were announced on Jan. 22, 2026; the awards ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, with Conan O’Brien as host.
- Categories for directing, writing and technical awards reflect strong placement for both Sinners and One Battle After Another across major and craft categories.
Background
Oscar nominations are the culmination of a yearlong awards season that intersects critics’ awards, guild recognitions and festival buzz. Over the past decade the Academy has adjusted voting rounds and eligibility windows, influencing which films gain nomination momentum. Studio campaigns and streaming-release strategies also shape exposure; major contenders this year combined theatrical runs with targeted streaming windows to reach Academy voters. Historically, films that lead nominations often benefit from wider recognition in subsequent guild awards and industry ceremonies, improving their chances in the final vote.
“Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” emerged from a crowded field of prestige titles that dominated festival circuits and critics’ lists last autumn. Filmmakers Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson are both past nominees with established industry profiles, which can influence peer voting in director and craft branches. Performers like Michael B. Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet brought high-profile campaigns and varied critical reception, creating close contests in the acting categories. The Academy’s membership growth and diversification efforts in recent years continue to affect nomination patterns, broadening the pool of films under consideration.
Main Event
The nominations were announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on the morning of Jan. 22, 2026. The headline number is Sinners’ 16 nominations, a tally that places it atop this year’s list and marks a notable milestone for the film’s awards trajectory. One Battle After Another’s 13 nominations position it as a formidable competitor across both top-line categories and technical fields. Major acting categories include Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another) and Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), setting up a competitive Best Actor race.
Nominees in directing, screenplay and cinematography reflect a mixture of established auteurs and rising voices, with Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson both recognized for their directorial work. The Academy’s technical branches also acknowledged significant craft achievements, elevating films with ambitious production design and sound work. The nominations list spans a range of distributors and release strategies, from major studio-backed films to smaller independent releases that found audiences during awards season.
Conan O’Brien’s return as host was confirmed ahead of the broadcast, signaling the Academy’s preference for a familiar figure with late-night credentials. The ceremony on March 15 will be closely watched for both awards outcomes and the show’s tone as the Academy balances entertainment with recognition of the year’s artistry. Voters will now move from nomination recognition to final-ballot voting, with winners to be announced on the night of the ceremony.
Analysis & Implications
Record nomination counts like Sinners’ 16 can provide momentum heading into final voting, but they do not guarantee Best Picture or top-category wins. Historically, films with the most nominations often win multiple awards, but split ballots and coalition voting across branches can produce surprises. For studios and filmmakers, a high nomination total supports post-announcement publicity and can boost box-office or streaming viewership in the weeks leading to the ceremony.
One Battle After Another’s 13 nominations highlight its cross-category strength from directing to leading performance, positioning it as the primary challenger to Sinners in headline races. The presence of established names—Coogler, Anderson, DiCaprio, Jordan—creates a dynamic where both artistic reputation and contemporary reception intersect. If younger nominees like Chalamet win, the Academy would continue a recent pattern of recognizing early-career breakthroughs alongside veteran performers.
The nominations also signal industry trends: the blending of streaming and theatrical strategies, the prominence of director-driven projects, and continued attention to technical craft. International market considerations and awards-season scheduling will influence studios’ promotional investments. For viewers and exhibitors, the nominations often produce renewed interest in nominated films, which can translate into box-office rebounds or increased streaming engagement before winners are announced.
Comparison & Data
| Film | Nomination Count |
|---|---|
| Sinners | 16 |
| One Battle After Another | 13 |
The table above highlights the leading nomination totals confirmed by the Academy. While Sinners leads numerically, the distribution of those nominations across major and technical categories will matter for final outcomes. Historically, films that combine Best Picture, Director and Actor nominations have had stronger chances of multiple wins, but the Academy’s voting patterns can favor different films in separate branches.
Reactions & Quotes
Industry groups, filmmakers and audiences reacted quickly after the announcement, offering measured praise and noting competitive categories.
These nominations recognize a wide range of cinematic achievement across a very competitive year.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (official statement)
The Academy framed the list as representative of the year’s standout work across branches.
To be honored among such a talented field is humbling; the team behind the film is grateful.
Ryan Coogler (director, Sinners)
Coogler’s brief response underscored gratitude without previewing campaign strategy.
Audiences will debate and celebrate these nominations — that conversation is part of awards season’s energy.
Festival critic
Critics noted that the nominations will intensify public and industry discussion through March 15.
Unconfirmed
- How nomination momentum will translate to actual wins on March 15 remains unresolved; final ballots have yet to be counted.
- Box-office or streaming viewership increases for nominated films are expected but not yet measured.
- Any last-minute campaign shifts or public events that might influence voter preferences are not confirmed.
Bottom Line
The Jan. 22 nominations set the stage for a competitive 98th Academy Awards, with Sinners and One Battle After Another emerging as the year’s principal contenders by nomination count. High-profile acting nominations for Michael B. Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet create a closely watched Best Actor field that could produce either an established winner or a younger breakthrough.
As the industry moves toward the March 15 ceremony hosted by Conan O’Brien, the nominations will drive further attention, box-office interest and awards-season conversation. Final outcomes will depend on cross-branch voting dynamics, and while nomination totals offer guidance, the Academy has produced surprises in past years.
Sources
- The New York Times — media/press (full nominations list and announcement details)