The 2026 Oscar nominations have delivered their usual mix of expected triumphs and shocking omissions, with some of Hollywood's biggest names left disappointed while others celebrate unexpected recognition.
Major Snubs That Have Shaken The Industry
While Sinners dominated proceedings with an impressive 16 nominations, several high-profile projects and performers failed to make the cut. The most notable omission came in the form of Wicked: For Good, the sequel to last year's 10-time nominee that received exactly zero nominations this time around.
Star Power Fails To Translate To Oscar Recognition
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the two leading stars of Wicked: For Good, were both overlooked in their respective acting categories. Perhaps most significantly, the film itself missed out on the coveted Best Picture nomination, marking a dramatic reversal from the franchise's previous Oscar success.
Paul Mescal's acclaimed performance as William Shakespeare in the adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel Hamnet also failed to secure a nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category. Industry observers suggest vote-splitting may have played a role, as some voters apparently considered him for Best Actor instead.
Golden Globe Nominee Overlooked
Chase Infiniti, the breakout star of One Battle After Another, found herself surprisingly absent from the Oscar nominations despite her recent Golden Globe recognition. Remarkably, all four of her co-stars - Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Teyana Taylor - secured nominations, making her omission particularly conspicuous.
British Talent Celebrates Surprise Recognition
While some stars were left disappointed, British actors Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku enjoyed unexpected success. The 74-year-old Lindo received a nomination for his portrayal of musician Delta Slim in Sinners, a development that caught many awards pundits by surprise given the strong competition in his category.
Mosaku, the RADA-trained British Nigerian actress, secured her place in the awards conversation with a nomination that had been building momentum in recent days. Her recognition represents a significant breakthrough for the 39-year-old performer.
Other Notable Developments
The nominations revealed several other interesting patterns and omissions:
- Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value received nine nominations overall but was completely overlooked in the new Best Achievement in Casting category, despite securing four acting nominations
- Guillermo del Toro failed to secure a Best Director nomination for Frankenstein, despite the gothic horror film receiving nine nominations including Best Picture
- Formula One blockbuster F1 exceeded expectations by securing a Best Picture nomination alongside its anticipated technical category recognition
Kate Hudson's Strategic Success
In the tight Best Actress race, Kate Hudson secured her nomination for Song Sung Blue through what appears to have been effective campaign strategy. A recent publicity event featuring her mother, Hollywood veteran Goldie Hawn, may have provided the crucial voter boost needed to secure her place among the nominees.
As the film industry digests these nominations, all eyes now turn to the Academy Awards ceremony scheduled for Sunday, 15 March in Los Angeles, where these surprises and snubs will ultimately be judged by who takes home the coveted golden statuettes.
