Lead
Nominees for the 98th Academy Awards assembled at the Beverly Hilton on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, for the traditional pre‑Oscars nominees luncheon and the annual class photograph. Major nominees and industry figures — from Emma Stone and Timothée Chalamet to Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan and Chloé Zhao — attended the star‑studded gathering ahead of the March 15 ceremony. The event doubled as a social moment and a networking hub, with multiple past Oscar winners and key Academy officials present. It also came amid a field led by Sinners (16 nominations), One Battle After Another (13), Sentimental Value (9) and Hamnet (8).
Key Takeaways
- The nominees luncheon took place on February 10, 2026, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, serving as the annual class photo opportunity for Oscar contenders.
- Sinners leads the 98th Academy Awards with a record 16 nominations; One Battle After Another has 13, Sentimental Value 9, and Hamnet 8.
- Nine individuals are first‑time acting nominees this year; named examples include Michael B. Jordan, Wagner Moura, Rose Byrne, Renate Reinsve, Jacob Elordi, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Wunmi Mosaku and Teyana Taylor.
- Emma Stone became the youngest person and the only woman nominated twice for both acting and Best Picture for the same film, for Bugonia (2025) and previously for Poor Things (2023).
- Timothée Chalamet, at age 30, is the youngest person with nominations for both Best Actor and Best Picture in the same year for Marty Supreme.
- The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will air live on ABC.
- Guests at the luncheon included a mix of first‑time nominees, veteran actors, directors and past Oscar winners such as Steven Spielberg and Paul Thomas Anderson.
Background
The Academy’s nominees luncheon is a long‑standing industry ritual that brings together contenders for a formal class portrait and an afternoon of recognition. Traditionally hosted in Beverly Hills, the event is both a ceremonial photo opportunity and a chance for nominees to meet voters, industry executives and fellow filmmakers in a relatively informal setting. Over the years the luncheon has become a barometer of awards season momentum: who is seen with whom, which films draw large turnouts, and which campaigns appear energized.
This year’s field includes several headline narratives: Sinners’ record 16 nominations mark it as the awards frontrunner on paper, while a cluster of films with single‑digit but strategically placed noms remain competitive across categories. The presence of prominent past winners and influential producers underscores the industry stakes; studios and independent producers alike use the gatherings to strengthen late‑stage campaigning and public visibility. The mix of veteran auteurs and emerging talent also highlights the Academy’s evolving voter base and tastes.
Main Event
Arrivals began mid‑morning on February 10 as nominees, presenters and Academy officials filtered into the Beverly Hilton ballroom for registration, photo prep and seating. Photographers circulated ahead of the class picture and smaller portrait sets; nominees paused for quick interviews and on‑site portraits. Notable pairings observed by attendees included moments between Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos, Leonardo DiCaprio with family members in attendance, and Timothée Chalamet among a younger cohort of nominees.
Before the group shot, attendees socialized with established Oscar winners and industry figures present as guests, including filmmakers and composers credited with previous Academy honors. The luncheon program featured brief remarks from Academy leadership and a formal acknowledgement of the nominees, followed by a plated meal and time for conversations at individual tables. The atmosphere was broadly celebratory, with the gathering serving as both a public relations occasion and an internal industry forum.
Several first‑time acting nominees were spotlighted throughout the afternoon, drawing camera attention and congratulatory exchanges from peers. The event also provided a visible platform for creative teams behind the most‑nominated films to stage photo opportunities together, reinforcing narrative linkages between films, producers and studios as voting continues ahead of the March ceremony.
Analysis & Implications
The nominees luncheon is more than a photograph — it is an ecosystem for awards season dynamics. Sinners’ record haul of 16 nominations suggests broad recognition across acting, technical and creative categories, which can translate into multipronged campaign advantages (advertising, screenings, peer outreach). Such a lead raises expectations for March 15 but does not guarantee wins; past seasons show that vote splitting and strategic category pushes can alter outcomes between nomination and ceremony.
First‑time nominees in acting signal ongoing demographic and stylistic shifts in the Academy’s selections, reflecting both international outreach and varied storytelling. New entrants such as Wagner Moura and Wunmi Mosaku increase diversity in the nominee pool, a trend the Academy has promoted through membership initiatives. How these first‑time nominees perform on the ballots remains contingent on campaign visibility and category voting patterns.
High‑profile individuals who hold dual nominations — notably Emma Stone and Timothée Chalamet — introduce interesting vote‑aggregation questions. Stone’s unique record of dual acting and Best Picture nods for the same film (twice) sets a historic context that may influence voter narratives around career arcs and prestige. Chalamet’s combined Best Actor and Best Picture nominations at age 30 underscore a generational shift in perceived auteur‑actor projects.
Commercial and international box office performance will also play a role in final outcomes. Films with strong critical reception but limited theatrical runs may rely more heavily on peer campaigning and specialty market influence, while big‑nom films can leverage broader visibility to reinforce ballot traction during the final voting period.
Comparison & Data
| Film | Nominations |
|---|---|
| Sinners | 16 |
| One Battle After Another | 13 |
| Sentimental Value | 9 |
| Hamnet | 8 |
The nomination counts above frame the competitive landscape: Sinners’ 16 nominations create multiple pathways to wins across categories, while films with mid‑to‑high single‑digit tallies remain in contention for key categories. Historically, films with broad nominations can convert multiple wins but must still contend with category‑specific voting blocs (actors, directors, technicians) that may favor other titles.
Reactions & Quotes
The Academy described the luncheon as an occasion to honor nominees and to offer a communal moment before the final voting period.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (official)
Several attendees noted the mix of veteran filmmakers and new nominees, framing the event as both celebratory and strategically important for last‑minute campaigning.
Industry attendees (paraphrased)
Observers in the room pointed to Sinners’ record nominations and the visibility of first‑time acting nominees as key storylines to watch during March voting.
Industry analysts (paraphrased)
Unconfirmed
- The full list of all nine first‑time acting nominees was not exhaustively provided in the source material; eight specific names were listed.
- No official verbatim speeches from Academy leadership at the luncheon were published in the cited gallery, so exact wording for any remarks is not available here.
Bottom Line
The nominees luncheon on February 10 at the Beverly Hilton reiterated the dual nature of awards season gatherings: a ceremonial recognition and a tactical campaign environment. Sinners’ record 16 nominations make it the statistical frontrunner on paper, but the final Oscar outcomes will depend on category‑level voting behaviors and late campaign shifts.
Notable personal milestones — particularly Emma Stone’s historic dual acting and Best Picture record and Timothée Chalamet’s combined nominations at age 30 — create compelling narratives that may influence voter perception and media coverage ahead of the March 15 ceremony. As voting progresses, attention will turn to how studios and campaigns translate nomination momentum into wins.
Sources
- Deadline — Entertainment news gallery covering the nominees luncheon and photographs
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — Official Academy information and ceremony details (official)