LOS ANGELES — The nominations for the 98th Academy Awards were announced on January 22, 2026, marking one of the most competitive fields in recent memory. In a historic moment, vampire horror film Sinners dominated the list with 16 nominations, surpassing the previous record of 14 held by Titanic, La La Land and All About Eve.

Ryan Coogler’s genre-defying film received nods in major categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan) and multiple technical awards, positioning it as the early frontrunner ahead of the ceremony scheduled for March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Hot on its heels was Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which secured 13 nominations across key categories including Best Picture, Best Director and acting categories. Close behind were films like Marty Supreme, Frankenstein and Sentimental Value, each garnering significant recognition.

Best Picture Contenders

Ten films earned nominations for Best Picture, illustrating the diversity and strength of this year’s crop:

• Bugonia
  
  

• F1
  
  

• Frankenstein
  
  

• Hamnet
  
  

• Marty Supreme
  
  

• One Battle After Another
  
  

• The Secret Agent
  
  

• Sentimental Value
  
  

• Sinners
  
  

• Train Dreams
  
  

From historic drama (Hamnet) to high-octane sports storytelling (F1), and from atmospheric horror (Sinners) to literary adaptations (Frankenstein), the lineup reflects a rich spectrum of styles and genres.

Notable Firsts and Historic Recognitions

This year’s nominations delivered a number of remarkable milestones:

• Sinners became the most nominated film in Oscar history with 16 nods.
  
  

• Legendary costume designer Ruth E. Carter made history as the most-nominated Black woman in Academy Awards history, thanks to her work on Sinners.
  
  

• The international film The Secret Agent earned strong recognition, with Brazilian star Wagner Moura nominated for Best Actor — a notable achievement for global cinema.
  
  

Critically acclaimed films that had been favorites throughout the awards season, such as the Wicked: For Good sequel, were surprisingly shut out of the nominations, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Academy voting this year.

Industry Reaction and What’s Next

Industry insiders called the 2026 nominations “one of the most exciting and diverse fields in recent years,” applauding the mix of blockbuster, auteur cinema and international storytelling. With the ceremony now less than two months away, attention has shifted to predicting winners, campaign strategies and whether Sinners can convert its record wins into Oscar gold.

Sources: People, Reuters, Deadline, Sky News/Rotten Tomatoes, AP/PBS/GMA