Oscars 2026: A look at historic records created at the Academy Awards over the years

The Academy Awards have been honouring worldwide cinema and performers over the years, with its first ceremony being held on May 16, 1929. Emil Jannings created history by becoming the first recipient of an Academy Award. He won Best Actor for The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh. As it's officially the Academy season, take a look at some of the records created at the Oscars.

Sinners - 16 nominations at the Oscars 2026
The 98th Academy Awards is scheduled to be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, honouring movies released in 2025. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners leads the 2026 Oscar nominations with a record-breaking 16 nods, including Best Picture, Director, and Actor for Michael B. Jordan. The horror film surpassed the previous record of 14 nominations held by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land.

Walt Disney – 22 wins
Walt Disney has the record for the most Oscars won by an individual, with 22 awards. The film notably clinched 22 Oscars from 59 nominations, and 4 honorary awards, taking the total to 26. This record-setting career spanned 1932 to 1969, featuring wins for short animated films, documentaries, and technical achievements.

Katharine Hepburn – 4 Best Actress Wins
Katharine Hepburn holds the record of the most Academy Award-winning actresses. She has won four Best Actress Oscars that remain an outstanding achievement over a 48-year span (1933–1981). She was nominated 12 times and won for Morning Glory (1933), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968), and On Golden Pond (1981).

John Ford – 4 Best Director Wins
John Ford is still the most Academy Award-winning director. He won four Best Director Oscars out of 5 nominations, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood's top directors. His winning films were The Informer (1935), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), and The Quiet Man (1952). He has been recognised as a master of both Westerns and dramatic films during Hollywood's Golden Age.

Meryl Streep – 21 Nominations
Meryl Streep might not have won the most Academy Award but she still holds the record for the most Oscar-nominated performer in the acting categories, with a total of 21 nominations. The actress has won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Kramer vs. Kramer in 1979, Best Actress in a Leading Role award for Sophie's Choice in 1982 and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for The Iron Lady in 2011.

La La Land – 14 Nominations
La La Land tied All About Eve and Titanic for the record for the most nominated film. La La Land bagged 14 nominations at the Academy Awards. The film won 6 awards, including Best Director for Damien Chazelle, who became the youngest winner in that category.

Parasite – First Non-English Best Picture Winner
The Korean black comedy thriller film Parasite created history, becoming the first non-English-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Awards. The film won an additional three Oscars, for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. Additionally, it is one of only four films to win both the Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Best Picture, which marks the first time in more than 60 years that a South Korean film has been recognised with an Academy Award.

Three films - 11 wins
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), Titanic (1997), and Ben-Hur (1959) are the only three films that have won 11 Oscars so far. Return of the King's epic story, Titanic's sweeping romanticism, and Ben-Hur's technical skill all enthralled the Academy in different ways.

Peter O’Toole – 8 Nominations, No Win
While most of the nominated movies bagged ateaset a one win, Peter O’Toole created history in his own way. With eight nominations over 44 years (1963–2007), Peter O'Toole holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations for acting without a competitive win. Although he never won an Oscar, he was honoured with an Honorary Academy Award in 2003 for his performance in Lawrence of Arabia.