Oscar nominations 2026 live — latest updates, and how to watch as Academy Award nominees revealed

'Jay Kelly' is another Oscar hopeful that could miss out

Traditionally, the Academy loves recognizing movies that are about making movies. So, on the surface, "Jay Kelly," a Noah Baumbach comedy-drama starring George Clooney as a melancholic actor, looked a surefire better to be a major Oscar player.

However, the flick, which was released globally by Netflix, never managed to get the wind in its sails, and it's awards season has largely stalled out. Clooney isn't even in the Best Actor conversation, and co-star Adam Sandler looks a long shot in Best Supporting Actor. "Jay Kelly" could surface in Best Original Screenplay, but even that is no sure thing. Frankly, at this stage in the game, it might be completely shutout.

'Wicked's' magic may have run dry

"Wicked" put quite the spell on Oscar voters last year, scooping 10 nominations (including Best Picture), and winning two, Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. It's sequel, "Wicked: For Good" was initially being tipped for similar success.

Unfortunately, this is one emerald-green train that appears to have been derailed. The lackluster critical reception, and underwhelming box office return of "Wicked's" second act last November put a dent in its campaign, and that momentum has only ebbed away further in recent weeks. At present, it looks like a real outsider for noms.

Ariana Grande, who was once seen as the Best Supporting Actress favorite before being overtaken in the odds by Teyana Taylor (for "One Battle After Another") and Amy Madigan (for "Weapons"), is still likely to pick up her second Oscar nomination for the role of Glinda the Good, but "Wicked: For Good's" chance of even getting a nod in Best Picture, let alone a win, appear to be all but over. Oz has clearly lost its magic.

When are the 98th Academy Awards?

Let's not forget that today is just the starting gun when it comes to the 98th Academy Awards. The grand ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Conan O'Brien is set to return as host, and per tradition, it'll be the most star-studded event in the Hollywood calendar. Last year was the first time the Academy Awards were also broadcast on a streaming service (Hulu) and that will continue this year.

Interestingly, last month, it was confirmed that from 2029 the Oscars will broadcast exclusively on YouTube. This switch will come after five-decades on ABC, and the Academy will be hoping it'll be the spark to get Oscar interest back to its peak.

Is it finally Timmy's time to shine?

"Marty Supreme" is another movie likely to do well in today's Oscar nominations. While director Josh Safdie is not being widely tipped for a Best Director nod, the sports drama is still on track for recognition in the Best Picture category. However, when it comes to "Marty Supreme", all the focus is on its star, Timothée Chalamet.

Chalamet has been twice nominated for Best Actor, for "Call Me By Your Name" and "A Complete Unknown," and has made no secret of his personal goal to win an Oscar. His leading role as the eponymous Marty Mauser is very likely to deliver his third nomination, but could the popular actor go a step further this time and win?

He's probably got his strongest chance to date, but could face some stiff competition from Leonardo DiCaprio (for "One Battle After Another"), Ethan Hawke (for "Blue Moon") and we can't forget Michael B. Jordon (for "Sinners") either. Of course there would be something very fitting about Chalamet finally getting his Oscar for a movie where he plays a driven dreamer that aspires to the very best in his field.

Netflix has two potential Oscar players this year

Much has been made of Netflix's quest to win a Best Picture Oscar. That's a feat that rival streamer Apple TV managed in 2022 with it's movie "CODA" (though, hot take, I'm not sure that win has aged particularly graceful), but to date, the world's biggest streaming service has never managed to earn the top prize despite having received a slew of nominations, and several wins in multiple other categories over the years.

Will 2025 be the year that changes, and Netflix scores the coveted Best Picture statue? Don't count on it. However, the big red streaming service is likely to have a couple of chances with both "Frankenstein" and "Train Dreams" in the running for a nomination. However, should either get into the competitive BP field, they are not predicted to be among the favorites. Netflix might have to settle for just the noms.

Netflix's best chance of scoring an actual win in March appears to be via Jacob Elordi in the Best Supporting Actor category. Elordi is tipped for a nomination for his role as the monster in "Frankenstein," and the field seems particularly open this year. It helps that many critics declared Elordi's performance the best part of the gothic drama.

'Hamnet' has at least one Oscar seemingly sewn up

Chloé Zhao, who is no stranger to the Oscars having won Best Picture and Best Director for her movie "Nomadland" back in 2021, is likely to have a great day. Her latest movie "Hamnet," a period drama that focuses on playwright William Shakespeare and his wife as they struggle with the death of their son, has been tipped for inclusion across several major categories including Picture and Director.

However, it's most important nod will come in Best Actress. Jessie Buckley is a complete lock for a nomination, and she's very likely win. Buckley plays Shakespeare's wife Agnes Hathaway, and her acclaimed performance has already seen her scoop a clutch of awards including a Golden Globe and Critics Choice. She's an overwhelming favorite, and at this stage is considered pretty much a lock to win the Oscar as well.

It could be a heavenly day for 'Sinners'

Another movie that is expected to walk away today with a whole bunch of Oscar nominations is "Sinners." Ryan Coogler's vampire epic was a rare movie last year that captured the attention of both professional critics and the general audience.

"Sinners" is a shoo-in for a Best Picture nom, and Coogler will almost certainly appear in the Best Director field. Michael B. Jordon should get a look in the Best Actor category for his dual-role as twin brothers, Smoke and Stack. And "Sinners" also looks good for a Best Original Screenplay nomination. And that's before we talk about it's strong likelihood of a nomination in categories like Casting, Production Design and Cinematography. I expect it's total Oscar nominations to be in the low double digits.

'One Battle After Another' is expected to dominate

If there's one movie that I'm expecting to hear mentioned a lot today it's "One Battle After Another." Paul Thomas Anderson's action-thriller epic was showered with praise upon its release last September, and I expect The Academy will follow suit.

It's the current frontrunner for Best Picture, and it's nomination in the cat is pretty much a certainty. It's also odds-on favorite for Best Director, star Leonardo DiCaprio should scoop a Best Actor nod, alongside co-stars Chase Infiniti (in Best Actress), Teyana Taylor (in Best Supporting Actress), then Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn are likely to both appear in Best Supporting Actor. The flick is also likely to get a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination, and appear across the technical categories as well.

In fact, there have been rumblings it could match, or even, exceed the most nominations by a single movie in Oscar history. That total is currently 14, an honor shared by "Titanic," "La La Land" and "All About Eve." Could "One Battle" get 15?

When are the Oscar nominations confirmed?

Let's discuss the most important information first: when are the Oscar 2026 nominations going to be announced? The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will reveal the Oscar 2026 nominations today (Thursday, January 22) at 8:30 a.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. GMT live from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles, California. The countdown has begun, let's talk the movie likely to appear later today.

Welcome to the Oscar 2026 nominations LIVE!

Hello! Good morning, welcome to our live coverage of the Oscar 2026 nominations. I'm Rory, a Senior Entertainment Editor at Tom's Guide, and I'll be guiding you through the next several hours of Oscar goodness, offering the latest updates, a few predictions of my own, and, of course, full coverage as the noms are revealed.

Oscar nominations day is one of the biggest events in the Hollywood calendar, and there's plenty to talk about, so let's get discussing all things Academy Awards now...