As the 98th Academy Awards approach on March 15, 2026, the Oscar race has sharpened the stakes and sparked spirited industry debate shaped by record-breaking nominations and major precursor wins. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled nominations on January 22, with Sinners setting a new benchmark by earning 16 Oscar nominations, the most in Academy history and marking a milestone for Black cinema representation. Close behind current Best Picture frontrunner, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another secured a formidable 13 nods, which speaks to its status as a perennial contender in top categories.
Alongside this frontrunning duo, films like Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Frankenstein, Sentimental Value and Train Dreams populate a competitive Best Picture lineup that reflects both critical acclaim and awards season momentum. Precursors including the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, Directors Guild and BAFTA have already shaped expectations, with wins and nominations from these bodies bolstering the profiles of key titles and talent.
Innovations this year also include the first-ever Casting category, elevating key behind-the-scenes contributors to the Oscars stage and expanding the scope of recognition across the craft.
With industry voters finalizing their ballots and public conversation intensifying around surprises and snubs, the contest remains in flux even as frontrunners emerge. To help gauge how fans see the race shaping up, we’ve put together a set of poll questions for you to answer with your predictions below:
Published - February 25, 2026 12:04 pm IST
