As Hollywood gears up for the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, the race for this year's Oscars is about as thrilling as the films themselves.
With powerful performances to record-breaking nominations, the awards season has the stage set for a dramatic night of cinematic celebration. Here's a look at expert predictions across the key categories.
Oscars 2026: Best Picture
The frontrunners for Best Picture are clear. Paul Thomas Anderson's darkly comic thriller One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler's vampire drama Sinners have dominated awards season. BBC critics Nicholas Barber and Caryn James say that while Coogler's film broke records with 16 Oscar nominations, Anderson's film has swept most precursor awards, including the Producers Guild and BAFTA.
- Likely Winner: One Battle After Another
- Could Win: Sinners
Oscars 2026: Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson has never won an Oscar despite multiple nominations. Both BBC and Euronews critics agree that Anderson is the favourite for Best Director for his work on One Battle After Another, while Ryan Coogler remains a strong contender.
- Likely Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
- Could Win: Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Oscars 2026: Best Actor
The lead actor category has been highly competitive. After early predictions favoured Timothee Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Michael B Jordan's performance as twins in Sinners has gained momentum. LA Times says that Jordan's win at the Actor Awards makes him the likely victor.
- Likely Winner: Michael B Jordan, Sinners
- Could Win: Timothee Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Oscars 2026: Best Actress
Jessie Buckley's portrayal of Shakespeare's wife in Hamnet has dominated awards season, making her the clear favourite for Best Actress. Critics highlight her performance as a standout among strong competitions, including Rose Byrne, Renate Reinsve, and Emma Stone.
- Likely Winner: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
- Could Win: Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Oscars 2026: Supporting Roles
For Best Supporting Actor, Sean Penn's transformative work in One Battle After Another gives him the edge over Stellan Skarsgard and others. In Best Supporting Actress, Amy Madigan's long-awaited recognition for Weapons is predicted to triumph over rising star Teyana Taylor, though Wunmi Mosaku could pull a surprise.
- Best Supporting Actor Likely Winner: Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
- Best Supporting Actress Likely Winner: Amy Madigan, Weapons
Oscars 2026: Screenplay - Original and Adapted
Ryan Coogler is widely expected to win Best Original Screenplay for Sinners, while Paul Thomas Anderson is the favourite for Best Adapted Screenplay for One Battle After Another. As per BBC, both scripts show bold originality and contemporary relevance.
- Best Original Screenplay Likely Winner: Sinners (Ryan Coogler)
- Best Adapted Screenplay Likely Winner: One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)
Other Key Categories Likely Winners
- Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
- Best International Feature: Sentimental Value (Norway)
- Best Cinematography: One Battle After Another
- Best Costume Design: Frankenstein
- Best Original Score: Sinners (Ludwig Goransson)
- Best Original Song: Golden from KPop Demon Hunters
With several categories still unpredictable, Oscars 2026 promises surprises and historic moments.
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