Oscars Nomination 2026 projections: Sinners could make history as One Battle After Another leads the race

Oscars Nominations 2026

• Oscar nominations for 2026 to be announced January 22 at 8:30 a.m. EST
• Ryan Coogler's Sinners and Anderson's One Battle After Another lead predictions
• India's Homebound is a strong contender for Best International Feature Film

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The excitement around Hollywood’s biggest night is officially here, as the 2026 Oscar nominations are set to be unveiled today. With the announcement, the final leg of the journey to the 98th Academy Awards begins, celebrating the films, performances and creative voices that left the strongest impression over the past year.

This year’s race is being closely watched, with industry insiders predicting a potential record-breaker.

To date, no film has crossed the 14-nomination mark, a feat achieved only by All About Eve, Titanic and La La Land. That record could now be under threat from Ryan Coogler’s Sinners.

The film has been widely praised for its visual craft and emotional depth, and it could also bring Michael B. Jordan his first-ever Oscar nomination for acting.

Equally dominant in predictions is Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. Having performed exceptionally well throughout awards season, the film is widely seen as the frontrunner.

The father-daughter revolutionary comedy is expected to feature heavily in the major categories and could secure nominations across all four acting fields, with multiple performers in contention.

If forecasts are accurate, Warner Bros. could wake up to its strongest Oscar showing in the studio’s 102-year history. Both One Battle After Another and Sinners are expected to lead the charge, even as the studio navigates a major transition following Netflix’s $72 billion all-cash bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.

Other titles tipped for strong performances include Frankenstein and Marty Supreme, each predicted to land around 11 nominations, while Hamnet is expected to follow closely with 10.

For Indian viewers, the spotlight will be on the Best International Feature Film category.

India’s official submission, Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, is considered a strong contender, though the category is famously unpredictable.

Also Read: India’s Oscar entry Homebound shortlisted to next voting round at Academy Awards 2026

The nominations will be revealed on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. EST (5:30 a.m. PST). For audiences in India, the reveal will take place at 6:30 p.m. IST, turning the announcement into an evening event.

Also Read: Timothée Chalamet wins first Golden Globe for Marty Supreme, thanks girlfriend Kylie Jenner in emotional speech

Actors Danielle Brooks, known for The Color Purple, and Lewis Pullman from the upcoming Spaceballs 2, will announce nominees across 24 categories, including the newly introduced Best Casting award, which honours the often-unsung work of casting directors.

As nominations are announced, anticipation will give way to celebration, surprise and debate, setting the tone for the road to Oscar night.