{"id":18872,"date":"2026-02-11T02:01:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T02:01:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/oscar-nominees-luncheon-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T02:01:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T02:01:55","slug":"oscar-nominees-luncheon-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/oscar-nominees-luncheon-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Oscar Nominees Luncheon: Stars Gather for 98th Class Photo"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<h2>Lead<\/h2>\n<p>Nominees for the 98th Academy Awards assembled at the Beverly Hilton on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, for the traditional pre\u2011Oscars nominees luncheon and the annual class photograph. Major nominees and industry figures \u2014 from Emma Stone and Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet to Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan and Chlo\u00e9 Zhao \u2014 attended the star\u2011studded 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).<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Sinners leads the 98th Academy Awards with a record 16 nominations; One Battle After Another has 13, Sentimental Value 9, and Hamnet 8.<\/li>\n<li>Nine individuals are first\u2011time 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.<\/li>\n<li>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).<\/li>\n<li>Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet, at age 30, is the youngest person with nominations for both Best Actor and Best Picture in the same year for Marty Supreme.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Guests at the luncheon included a mix of first\u2011time nominees, veteran actors, directors and past Oscar winners such as Steven Spielberg and Paul Thomas Anderson.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The Academy\u2019s nominees luncheon is a long\u2011standing 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.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s field includes several headline narratives: Sinners\u2019 record 16 nominations mark it as the awards frontrunner on paper, while a cluster of films with single\u2011digit 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\u2011stage campaigning and public visibility. The mix of veteran auteurs and emerging talent also highlights the Academy\u2019s evolving voter base and tastes.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>Arrivals began mid\u2011morning 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\u2011site portraits. Notable pairings observed by attendees included moments between Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos, Leonardo DiCaprio with family members in attendance, and Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet among a younger cohort of nominees.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Several first\u2011time 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\u2011nominated films to stage photo opportunities together, reinforcing narrative linkages between films, producers and studios as voting continues ahead of the March ceremony.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>The nominees luncheon is more than a photograph \u2014 it is an ecosystem for awards season dynamics. Sinners\u2019 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.<\/p>\n<p>First\u2011time nominees in acting signal ongoing demographic and stylistic shifts in the Academy\u2019s 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\u2011time nominees perform on the ballots remains contingent on campaign visibility and category voting patterns.<\/p>\n<p>High\u2011profile individuals who hold dual nominations \u2014 notably Emma Stone and Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet \u2014 introduce interesting vote\u2011aggregation questions. Stone\u2019s 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\u2019s combined Best Actor and Best Picture nominations at age 30 underscore a generational shift in perceived auteur\u2011actor projects.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2011nom films can leverage broader visibility to reinforce ballot traction during the final voting period.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Film<\/th>\n<th>Nominations<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Sinners<\/td>\n<td>16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>One Battle After Another<\/td>\n<td>13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sentimental Value<\/td>\n<td>9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Hamnet<\/td>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><figcaption>Top\u2011nominated films leading the 98th Academy Awards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The nomination counts above frame the competitive landscape: Sinners\u2019 16 nominations create multiple pathways to wins across categories, while films with mid\u2011to\u2011high single\u2011digit tallies remain in contention for key categories. Historically, films with broad nominations can convert multiple wins but must still contend with category\u2011specific voting blocs (actors, directors, technicians) that may favor other titles.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The Academy described the luncheon as an occasion to honor nominees and to offer a communal moment before the final voting period.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (official)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Several attendees noted the mix of veteran filmmakers and new nominees, framing the event as both celebratory and strategically important for last\u2011minute campaigning.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Industry attendees (paraphrased)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Observers in the room pointed to Sinners\u2019 record nominations and the visibility of first\u2011time acting nominees as key storylines to watch during March voting.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Industry analysts (paraphrased)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: How the nominees luncheon fits awards season<\/summary>\n<p>The nominees luncheon is an annual Academy event that combines a formal group photograph with a hosted luncheon for nominees and invited guests. It functions as a visibility moment, a networking opportunity and a symbolic recognition ahead of the Oscars ceremony. The class photo is used widely by press and campaigns to spotlight contenders; the luncheon also offers a chance for Academy leadership to address nominees and for studios to gauge momentum.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The full list of all nine first\u2011time acting nominees was not exhaustively provided in the source material; eight specific names were listed.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2019 record 16 nominations make it the statistical frontrunner on paper, but the final Oscar outcomes will depend on category\u2011level voting behaviors and late campaign shifts.<\/p>\n<p>Notable personal milestones \u2014 particularly Emma Stone\u2019s historic dual acting and Best Picture record and Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet\u2019s combined nominations at age 30 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/gallery\/oscar-nominees-luncheon-photos-rose-byrne-emma-stone-kate-hudson-elle-fanning-wagner-moura-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Deadline<\/a> \u2014 Entertainment news gallery covering the nominees luncheon and photographs<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oscars.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences<\/a> \u2014 Official Academy information and ceremony details (official)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead Nominees for the 98th Academy Awards assembled at the Beverly Hilton on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, for the traditional pre\u2011Oscars nominees luncheon and the annual class photograph. Major nominees and industry figures \u2014 from Emma Stone and Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet to Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan and Chlo\u00e9 Zhao \u2014 attended the star\u2011studded gathering ahead &#8230; <a title=\"Oscar Nominees Luncheon: Stars Gather for 98th Class Photo\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/oscar-nominees-luncheon-2026\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Oscar Nominees Luncheon: Stars Gather for 98th Class Photo\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Oscar Nominees Luncheon: Stars Gather for 98th Oscars \u2014 Newsroom","rank_math_description":"Nominees for the 98th Academy Awards posed at the Beverly Hilton on Feb 10, 2026, for the annual class photo as Sinners led with 16 nominations and several first\u2011time acting nods.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Oscars, nominees luncheon, Beverly Hilton, Emma Stone, 98th Academy Awards","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18872"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18872\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}