Oscar Shortlists 2026 Revealed: Sinners and Wicked: For Good Lead Across 12 Categories

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially lifted the curtain on the Oscar shortlists across 12 categories, offering the first real snapshot of how the race for the 98th Academy Awards is shaping up. Leading the pack are Sinners and Wicked: For Good, two very different films that have emerged as early favorites after securing multiple mentions across key creative and technical categories. Their strong presence on the shortlists signals broad industry support and positions both titles as serious contenders as awards season momentum builds.

This year’s shortlists stand out not just for the films dominating them, but also for what they represent. The Academy has introduced casting as a dedicated category for the first time, marking a significant shift in how behind-the-scenes contributions are recognized. Alongside casting, the shortlists span major areas such as original score, original song, sound, visual effects, makeup and hairstyling, cinematography, and several short film and documentary categories, highlighting the wide range of talent that shapes modern filmmaking.

Beyond the front-runners, several other high-profile projects made notable appearances, reinforcing how competitive this year’s field is. Big-budget spectacles sit comfortably alongside more intimate, craft-driven films, while the international feature shortlist once again reflects the global reach of contemporary cinema, with stories and filmmakers from around the world earning a place in the conversation.

The release of these shortlists is a pivotal moment in the Oscar calendar, narrowing the field and intensifying speculation ahead of the final nominations. With voting now moving into its next phase, attention will turn to which of these shortlisted films can maintain their momentum. Final nominations are set to be announced in January, with the 98th Academy Awards ceremony scheduled for March, where the industry will ultimately decide which of these early standouts takes home Hollywood’s most coveted honors.