2026 Oscars Predictions: Who Will Win Every Main Category

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The nominations for the 2026 Oscars are finally here! Last year, 2025, was a fantastic year for movies, with many exciting films released worldwide. These great films will be honored at the 98th Academy Awards on March 25th at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, though only some will win the coveted Oscar statue.

The Awards of Merit include a total of 24 different categories, recognizing achievements in all aspects of filmmaking – everything from directing and costume design to the coveted Best Picture award. The most prominent awards are often called the “Big Five”: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. But many people also consider awards for supporting actors and actresses, as well as Best Cinematography, to be equally important.

10
Best Picture

Predicted Winner: ‘One Battle After Another’


Warner Bros. Pictures

This year, One Battle After Another is a strong contender for Best Picture, and it’s already received numerous award nominations. While there are many interesting films up for the award, One Battle After Another truly deserves a spot on the list. The film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as an explosives expert, has been a major success so far, earning an impressive nine nominations at the Golden Globes.

Best Picture Nominees 2026
‘Sinners‘
‘Marty Supreme‘
‘Sentimental Value‘
‘Bugonia‘
‘Frankenstein‘
‘Train Dreams‘
‘One Battle After Another‘
‘Hamnet‘
‘F1‘
‘The Secret Agent‘

Critics and audiences alike have lauded One Battle After Another for its thrilling action, excellent acting, and faithful depiction of the Weather Underground group’s story. Released in September, the film was immediately hailed as a potential frontrunner for movie of the year, and its popularity has surged since becoming available on HBO Max in November. Despite strong competition from other Best Picture nominees, One Battle After Another appears to be the most likely winner.

9
Best Director

Predicted Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson for ‘One Battle After Another’

Following the Best Picture win for One Battle After Another, Paul Thomas Anderson is widely expected to win Best Director. Because Anderson both directed and wrote the film, he had a head start in planning and executing his vision, something directors who don’t write their own screenplays don’t typically have.

Best Director Nominations 2026
Nominee Movie
Joachim Trier ‘Sentimental Value‘
Josh Safdie ‘Marty Supreme‘
Chloé Zhao ‘Hamnet‘
Ryan Coogler ‘Sinners‘
Paul Thomas Anderson ‘One Battle After Another‘

Many believe Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film could finally win him an Oscar, drawing comparisons to Christopher Nolan’s success with Oppenheimer. Anderson has been nominated for an Academy Award several times, but hasn’t won yet. Given Nolan’s long-awaited victory last year, many are hopeful this could be Anderson’s year to take home the prize.

8
Best Actor

Predicted Winner: Timothée Chalamet in ‘Marty Supreme’


© A24 / Courtesy Everett Collection

This year, Timothée Chalamet took on an unexpected role in the film Marty Supreme. While the movie began as a small independent project, Chalamet’s performance as Marty Mauser – a shoe salesman who becomes a table tennis player – showed that he can deliver a compelling performance even outside of big-budget blockbusters.

Best Actor Nominations 2026
Nominee Movie
Michael B. Jordan ‘Sinners‘
Timothée Chalamet ‘Marty Supreme‘
Leonardo DiCaprio ‘One Battle After Another‘
Ethan Hawke ‘Blue Moon‘
Wagner Moura ‘The Secret Agent‘

Many consider Marty Supreme to be one of Timothée Chalamet’s strongest performances. He’s already received a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award for the film, suggesting his recent success will continue. While he faces strong competition from Michael B. Jordan in Sinners and Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another, Chalamet is currently the clear favorite to win Best Picture.

7
Best Supporting Actor

Predicted Winner: Stellan Skarsgård in ‘Sentimental Value’

Sentimental Value is quickly becoming a beloved film, largely due to Stellan Skarsgård’s compelling performance as filmmaker Gustav Borg. He’s already received a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for the role, and is a strong contender for an Oscar as well. Skarsgård delivers such a captivating portrayal of Borg that it’s surprising he’s considered a supporting character – a testament to the depth of his acting.

Best Supporting Actor Nominations 2026
Nominee Movie
Jacob Elordi ‘Frankenstein‘
Stellan Skarsgård ‘Sentimental Value‘
Benicio Del Toro ‘One Battle After Another‘
Sean Penn ‘One Battle After Another‘
Delroy Lindo ‘Sinners‘

Borg is a fascinating character, and Alexander Skarsgård portrays his complexity brilliantly. Skarsgård makes Borg both vulnerable and deeply interesting, creating a character viewers can really connect with. This performance proves Skarsgård’s impressive range as an actor, and it’s wonderful to see his career flourishing.

6
Best Actress

Predicted Winner: Emma Stone in ‘Bugonia’


Focus Features

This year’s Best Actress race is exceptionally competitive, making it difficult to predict a winner. Jessie Buckley’s performance in Hamnet is strong, but Emma Stone in Bugonia is also a serious contender. Stone is already an Oscar winner, and her recent performance in Poor Things hints at why she could win again for Bugonia. She delivers a stunning portrayal of pharmaceutical CEO Michelle Fuller, showcasing a uniquely strange and unsettling side of her talent.

Best Actress Nominations 2026
Nominee Movie
Jessie Buckley ‘Hamnet‘
Emma Stone ‘Bugonia‘
Rose Byrne ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You‘
Renate Reinsve ‘Sentimental Value‘
Kate Hudson ‘Song Sung Blue‘

“Bugonia” is a truly unique and impressive film, and Emma Stone’s performance is central to its success. Watching her character endure a terrifying ordeal – even pretending to be the alien her captors think she is to survive – is captivating. While Emma Stone has already received significant recognition, and other nominees are certainly deserving, it will be difficult for the Academy to overlook her performance this year and not award her Best Actress.

5
Best Supporting Actress

Predicted Winner: Teyana Taylor in ‘One Battle After Another’


Warner Bros.

The Best Supporting Actress category is shaping up to be a tough one for the Academy this year. Although Amy Madigan gave a strong performance in Weapons, most predict Teyana Taylor will win the Oscar for her work in One Battle After Another. Taylor has already received Best Supporting Actress awards from the Golden Globes, the LA Film Critics Association, and the National Society of Film Critics, making her a strong contender for the Academy Award as well.

Best Supporting Actress Nominations 2026
Nominee Movie
Elle Fanning ‘Sentimental Value‘
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas ‘Sentimental Value‘
Teyana Taylor ‘One Battle After Another‘
Wunmi Mosaku ‘Sinners‘
Amy Madigan ‘Weapons’

Those who have watched One Battle After Another will quickly see why Taylor received a nomination. Her performance as Perfidia Beverly Hills is remarkable, and her chemistry with Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays Pat Calhoun, is fantastic. Many viewers have praised Taylor for bringing both a warm, motherly side and a tough, realistic edge to her character. Given the widespread acclaim for One Battle After Another, it’s no surprise that so many people involved in the film have been nominated for Oscars, and it’s expected to be a big winner at the awards ceremony in March.

4
Best Original Screenplay

Predicted Winner: ‘Sinners’


Warner Bros. Pictures

When Sinners was first announced a few years ago, it sparked some debate. Some people were tired of the constant stream of vampire stories and adaptations of Dracula. However, Sinners surprised everyone and proved to be more than just another vampire movie. Ryan Coogler delivered fantastic storytelling, both in writing and directing, and received praise for his visually stunning approach.

Best Original Screenplay Nominations 2026
Nominee(s) Movie
‘Sinners‘
‘Marty Supreme‘
‘Sentimental Value‘
‘It Was Just an Accident‘
‘Blue Moon‘

Okay, so “Sinners” isn’t perfect – the story has a couple of little wobbles. But honestly, it didn’t bother me at all! The first half moves at a great pace, and while things get pretty wild with the supernatural stuff in the second half, it actually ramped up the excitement for me. Plus, the script itself is really strong – it’s one of those movies where you can tell a lot of thought went into the writing.

3
Best Adapted Screenplay

Predicted Winner: ‘One Battle After Another’

Best Adapted Screenplay Nominations 2026
Nominee(s) Movie
Will Tracy ‘Bugonia‘
Guillermo del Toro ‘Frankenstein‘
Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar ‘Train Dreams‘
Paul Thomas Anderson ‘One Battle After Another‘
Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell ‘Hamnet‘

2
Best Animated Feature Film

Predicted Winner: ‘KPop Demon Hunters’


Netflix

Best Animated Feature Film Nominees 2026
‘KPop Demon Hunters‘
‘Elio‘
‘Arco‘
‘Zootopia 2‘
‘Little Amélie or the Character of Rain‘

1
Best International Feature Film

Predicted Winner: ‘Sentimental Value’


Nordisk Film

Best International Feature Film Nominees 2026
‘Sentimental Value‘ – Norway
‘It Was Just an Accident‘
‘The Secret Agent‘ – Brazil
‘Sirât‘ – Spain
‘The Voice of Hind Rajab‘ – Tunisia

With the Oscar nominations announced, everyone’s starting to debate who will actually win! While opinions always vary, some films and actors are clear frontrunners to receive an award on March 15th. Do you agree with our predictions for who will win, or do you have your own picks?

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2026-01-22 18:44