:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/awardist-oscar-predictions-236c93362233445abd7e1c501d1eb5ed.jpg "2026 Oscar winner predictions: Who will win Best Picture, Best Actor, and more among top Academy ...")
&34;One Battle After Another,&34; &34;Sinners,&34; Timothée Chalamet, and more enter a crowded Oscars race. EW shares predictions for who will win at the 2026 Oscars. 2026 Oscar winner predictions: Who will win Best Picture, Best Actor, and more among top Academy Awards contenders? &34;One Battle After Another,&34; &34;Sinners,&34; Timothée Chalamet, and more enter a crowded Oscars race. EW shares predictions for who will win at the 2026 Oscars. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiauthorphotoba4923fec03a4027868306485696ef41.jpg) Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at .
"One Battle After Another," "Sinners," Timothée Chalamet, and more enter a crowded Oscars race. EW shares predictions for who will win at the 2026 Oscars.
2026 Oscar winner predictions: Who will win Best Picture, Best Actor, and more among top Academy Awards contenders?
"One Battle After Another," "Sinners," Timothée Chalamet, and more enter a crowded Oscars race. EW shares predictions for who will win at the 2026 Oscars.
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Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes *RuPaul's Drag Race* video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.
EW's editorial guidelines
on February 18, 2026 10:05 p.m. ET
2026 Oscar winners predictions: Who will win at the 98th Academy Awards?. Credit:
Netflix; A24; Warner Bros
- The 2026 Oscar nominations changed the state of the race. Now, see EW's winner predictions.
- Timothée Chalamet, *Sinners*, *One Battle After Another*, *KPop Demon Hunters*, and more are top contenders.
- Conan O'Brien returns as 98th Academy Awards host on March 15.
After decades of ignoring horror films at large, the 2026 Oscars have rewritten the sins of Academy Awards history by anointing Ryan Coogler's *Sinners* as the most-nominated movie of all time. But will the feat be enough to push it into the Oscars' winners' circle over *One Battle After Another*?
At the end of 2025, things seemed buttoned up for Paul Thomas Anderson's thriller *One Battle After Another* to steamroll the season. While that's still a realistic scenario, cross-branch support at the Oscars (to the tune of a landmark 16 overall nominations) indicates collective passion *might've* shifted toward *Sinners* in recent weeks.
Tying the prior record for most nods by one film (14) is an impressive feat, as *La La Land* managed to do for the first time since 1997's *Titanic* back in 2017. But *Sinners* not only met the challenge, it surpassed the benchmark by two, meaning every eligible branch that could vote for the movie, did.
Where to watch and stream 2026 Oscar-nominated movies, from 'Hamnet' to 'Sinners'
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'Sinners' shatters major Oscars record previously held by 'Titanic,' 'La La Land,' more
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***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter*.**
Oscar nominations morning is *not* the time for any contender to lose momentum, whether it's real interest among voters or even falling a few places back in the Oscars publicity machine. *One Battle* has, effectively, dominated the conversation for months; after attention shifted back to *Sinners* following its monumental box-office run, it seemed that enthusiasm could jump ship from Anderson's latest as Coogler's genre masterwork rises in its place.
However, *One Battle After Another *surged back at the Directors Guild of America Awards, where Anderson scored the ceremony's top prize over Coogler, clearing a path for the *Magnolia* director's Oscar victory as well.
Despite a narrative fueling *Sinners'* resurgence (with Coogler helming a predominantly Black cast en route to just under $370 million at the global box office, all for an original story with no foundational source material), the film isn't without its critics. Many have found it to be overly long and perhaps too experimental for some commercial tastes, while *One Battle* is a "safer" and more traditional option. But money talks, and *Sinners*' audience appeal is something Hollywood desperately needs right now, amid the age of what many consider to be a bleak era of sequel-soaked, IP-driven slop.
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2026 Oscar nominees: Jacob Elordi, Timothée Chalamet, and more.
While we're shifting back to *One Battle *for Best Picture, *Sinners* will generate even more traction at SAG's 2026 Actor Awards on March 1, where the film will likely earn the top competitive honor for its ensemble. There, the film also earned five individual nods from the largest Hollywood union — a group that shares huge crossover membership with the Academy.
On paper, though, *One Battle *still* *managed to outdo *Sinners* at the Actor Awards, earning at least one nomination in every Actor Award category (including for its stunt ensemble) — and two for Supporting Actor contenders Benicio Del Toro and Sean Penn.
That push and pull could point to another Best Picture/Best Director split ahead, with *One Battle*'s tight direction finally scoring Anderson his first victory in the category, while stronger overall cross-branch support for *Sinners* (and what the film represents) resulting in enough passionate, top-ballot placements for the film to squeeze it into the winner's circle for Best Picture.
At the Oscars, the acting winners still feel safe and secure. Timothée Chalamet's performance in *Marty Supreme* cleaned up at most precursor awards ceremonies (including the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards), as has Jessie Buckley's leading turn in *Hamnet*. *One Battle*'s Teyana Taylor is also in a safe spot, with her track record showing resilience in the later stages of the race.
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STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
While the film only scored one nomination, Rose Byrne's work in *If I Had Legs I'd Kick You *did triumph at the Indie Spirits ahead of final Oscar voting, and it's always good to get more eyeballs (and publicity) for a given performance at this vital stage.
Supporting Actor also feels less assured. Yes, Stellan Skarsgård triumphed at the Globes (and the all-important European Film Awards showered *Sentimental Value* with love at its annual ceremony), but Jacob Elordi's work in *Frankenstein* is the most physically transformative turn in the bunch. If he wins with SAG voters (as the populist group often heralds more commercially friendly, starrier performances), expect the *Euphoria* star to repeat at the Oscars.
Before the 2026 Oscars winners are revealed Sunday, March 15, during the ABC telecast, read on for **'s full list of 98th Academy Awards winner predictions.**
Best Picture
*Bugonia**F1**Frankenstein**Hamnet**Marty Supreme*****PREDICTED WINNER: *****One Battle After Another****The Secret Agent**Sentimental Value**Sinners**Train Dreams*
Best Director
Chloé Zhao, *Hamnet***Josh Safdie, *Marty Supreme*****PREDICTED WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson, *One Battle After Another*****Joachim Trier, *Sentimental Value***Ryan Coogler, *Sinners*
**PREDICTED WINNER: Timothée Chalamet, *Marty Supreme*****Leonardo DiCaprio, *One Battle After Another***Ethan Hawke, *Blue Moon***Michael B. Jordan, *Sinners***Wagner Moura, *The Secret Agent*
Best Actress
**PREDICTED WINNER: Jessie Buckley, *Hamnet*****Rose Byrne, *If I Had Legs I'd Kick You***Kate Hudson, *Song Sung Blue***Renate Reinsve, *Sentimental Value***Emma Stone, *Bugonia*
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Jessie Buckley as Agnes and Joe Alwyn as Bartholomew in 'Hamnet'.
Agata Grzybowska/Focus Features
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro, *One Battle After Another***Jacob Elordi, *Frankenstein***Delroy Lindo, *Sinners***Sean Penn, *One Battle After Another*****PREDICTED WINNER: Stellan Skarsgård, *Sentimental Value***
Best Supporting Actress
Elle Fanning, *Sentimental Value***Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, *Sentimental Value***Amy Madigan, *Weapons***Wunmi Mosaku, *Sinners*****PREDICTED WINNER: Teyana Taylor, *One Battle After Another***
Best Animated Feature
*Arco**Elio*****PREDICTED WINNER: *****KPop Demon Hunters****Little Amélie or the Character of Rain**Zootopia 2*
Best Documentary Feature
*The Alabama Solution**Come See Me in the Good Light**Cutting Through Rocks**Mr Nobody Against Putin*****PREDICTED WINNER: *The Perfect Neighbor***
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Shutterstock Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF 2025 Portrait Studio, Canada - Sep 2025.
Ben Trivett/Shutterstock
Best International Feature
*The Secret Agent *(Brazil)***It Was Just an Accident *(France)******PREDICTED WINNER: *Sentimental Value *(Norway)*****Sirât *(Spain)***The Voice of Hind Rajab *(Tunisia)
Best Original Screenplay
Robert Kaplow, *Blue Moon***Jafar Panahi (script collaborators: Nader Saïvar, Shadmehr Rastin, Mehdi Mahmoudian), *It Was Just an Accident***Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, *Marty Supreme***Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier, *Sentimental Value*****PREDICTED WINNER: Ryan Coogler, *Sinners***
Best Adapted Screenplay
Will Tracy,* Bugonia***Guillermo del Toro,* Frankenstein***Chloé Zhao, Maggie O'Farrell,* Hamnet*****PREDICTED WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson, *****One Battle After Another*****Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, *Train Dreams*
Best Casting
Nina Gold, *Hamnet***Jennifer Venditti, *Marty Supreme***Cassandra Kulukundis, *One Battle After Another***Gabriel Domingues, *The Secret Agent*****PREDICTED WINNER: Francine Maisler, *Sinners***
Best Film Editing
Stephen Mirrione, *F1***Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie, *Marty Supreme*****PREDICTED WINNER: Andy Jurgensen, *****One Battle After Another*****Olivier Bugge Coutté,* Sentimental Value***Michael P. Shawver, *Sinners*
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Smoke (Michael B. Jordan) and Sammie (Miles Caton) in 'Sinners'.
Best Cinematography
Dan Laustsen,* Frankenstein***Darius Khondji, *Marty Supreme***Michael Bauman, *One Battle After Another*****PREDICTED WINNER: Autumn Durald Arkapaw, *****Sinners*****Adolpho Veloso, *Train Dreams*
Best Production Design
**PREDICTED WINNER: Tamara Deverell, Shan Vieau, *****Frankenstein*****Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton, *Hamnet***Jack Fisk, Adam Willis, *Marty Supreme***Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino, *One Battle After Another***Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne, *Sinners*
Best Costume Design
Deborah L. Scott, *Avatar: Fire and Ash*****PREDICTED WINNER: Kate Hawley,***** Frankenstein*****Malgosia Turzanska, *Hamnet***Miyako Bellizzi, *Marty Supreme***Ruth E. Carter,* Sinners*
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
**PREDICTED WINNER: Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey,***** Frankenstein*****Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino, Tadashi Nishimatsu,* Kokuho***Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Shunika Terry, *Sinners***Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin, Bjoern Rehbein, *The Smashing Machine***Thomas Foldberg, Anne Cathrine Sauerberg, *The Ugly Stepsister*
Best Original Song
"Dear Me," *Diane Warren: Relentless *(music and lyrics by Diane Warren)******PREDICTED WINNER: "Golden," *KPop Demon Hunters *(music and lyrics by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seon, Teddy Park)******"I Lied to You," *Sinners *(music and lyrics by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Goransson)****"Sweet Dreams of Joy," *Viva Verdi! *(music and lyrics by Nicholas Pike)****"Train Dreams," *Train Dreams *(music by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner; lyrics by Nick Cave
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Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey in Kpop Demon Hunters.
Best Original Score
Jerskin Fendrix, *Bugonia***Alexandre Desplat, *Frankenstein***Max Richter, *Hamnet***Jonny Greenwood, *One Battle After Another*****PREDICTED WINNER: Ludwig Goransson, *Sinners***
**PREDICTED WINNER: Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, *****F1*****Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, *Frankenstein***José Antonio García, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflo, *One Battle After Another***Chris Welcker, Benjamin A. Burtt, Felipe Pacheco, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, *Sinners***Amanda Villavieja, Laia Casanovas, Yasmina Praderas, *Sirât*
Best Visual Effects
**PREDICTED WINNER: Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett, *****Avatar: Fire and Ash*****Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington, Keith Dawson, *F1***David Vickery, Stephen Aplin, Charmaine Chan, Neil Corbould, *Jurassic World: Rebirth***Charlie Noble, David Zaretti, Russell Bowen, Brandon K. McLaughlin, *The Lost Bus***Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean, *Sinners*
Best Live-Action Short
*Butcher's Stain**A Friend of Dorothy**Jane Austen's Period Drama**The Singers*****PREDICTED WINNER: *Two People Exchanging Saliva***
Best Animated Short
**PREDICTED WINNER: *****Butterfly****Forevergreen**The Girl Who Cried Pearls**Retirement Plan**The Three Sisters*
Best Documentary Short
*All the Empty Rooms*****PREDICTED WINNER: *****Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud****Children No More: "Were and Are Gone"**The Devil Is Busy**Perfectly a Strangeness*
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Published: February 19, 2026 at 12:00AM on Source: PRIME TIME
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&34;One Battle After Another,&34; &34;Sinners,&34; Timothée Chalamet, and more enter a crowded Oscars race. E...
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