Oscars 2026 Predictions: Expert Forecasts for Winners and Overlooked Contenders
As crew members diligently prepare the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the 98th Academy Awards ceremony this Thursday, anticipation builds for one of cinema's most prestigious nights. The glittering event promises to celebrate outstanding achievements in filmmaking, with industry insiders and critics eagerly speculating on which productions will take home the coveted golden statuettes.
Peter Bradshaw's Comprehensive Oscar Forecast
Esteemed film critic Peter Bradshaw has released his detailed predictions for the 2026 Oscars, offering insights into likely winners, deserving champions, and notable omissions from the nomination lists. The analysis suggests potential dominance by certain films while highlighting surprising absences that have sparked discussion among cinema enthusiasts.
Major Category Projections
Best Picture: Bradshaw predicts "Sinners" will claim the top prize, though he believes "The Secret Agent" deserves the honor. He notably identifies "The Mastermind" as a film that should have been in contention but was overlooked by the Academy.
Best Director: The forecast indicates Paul Thomas Anderson will win for "One Battle After Another," with Bradshaw agreeing this would be a deserving victory. However, he suggests Kleber Mendonça Filho deserved recognition for "The Secret Agent."
Acting Category Predictions
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan is projected to win for his performance in "Sinners," though Timothée Chalamet's work in "Marty Supreme" is deemed more worthy. Josh O'Connor's absence from the nominations for "The Mastermind" is highlighted as a significant oversight.
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley is expected to triumph for "Hamnet," with Bradshaw concurring this would be a justified victory. He notes Jennifer Lawrence's absence from contention for "Die My Love" as particularly surprising.
Supporting Performance Forecasts
Best Supporting Actor: Delroy Lindo is predicted to win for "Sinners," with Bradshaw agreeing this recognition would be well-deserved. Russell Crowe's performance in "Nuremberg" is identified as another notable omission from the nominations.
Best Supporting Actress: Wunmi Mosaku is forecast to win for "Sinners," though Teyana Taylor's work in "One Battle After Another" is considered more deserving. Gwyneth Paltrow's absence from the nominations for "Marty Supreme" completes the list of surprising snubs in acting categories.
Technical and Specialized Category Projections
Best Animated Feature: "Zootopia 2" is expected to win, though "Little Amélie" is deemed more deserving. "Fixed" is highlighted as a film that should have been in contention but was overlooked.
Screenplay Categories: "One Battle After Another" is predicted to win Best Adapted Screenplay, with Bradshaw agreeing this would be appropriate. For Best Original Screenplay, "Sinners" is forecast to triumph, though "It Was Just an Accident" is considered more deserving, and "Black Bag" is noted as a surprising omission.
Documentary and International Film Forecasts
Best Documentary: "Mr Nobody Against Putin" is expected to win, with Bradshaw agreeing this would be a justified victory. He notes "Ocean With David Attenborough" as a documentary that deserved nomination consideration.
Best International Feature Film: "Sentimental Value" is predicted to win, though "The Secret Agent" is considered more deserving. "The Ice Tower" is highlighted as another international production that should have been in contention.
Production and Technical Category Predictions
Production Design: "Hamnet" is forecast to win, with Bradshaw agreeing this recognition would be appropriate. "Bugonia" is identified as a film that deserved nomination consideration in this category.
Cinematography: "Train Dreams" is expected to win, with Bradshaw concurring this would be a deserving victory. He notes "The Secret Agent" as a surprising omission from the nominations.
Makeup and Hair: "Frankenstein" is predicted to triumph, with Bradshaw agreeing this would be appropriate recognition. "Blue Moon" is highlighted as another production that deserved consideration in this category.
Costume Design: "Sinners" is forecast to win, with Bradshaw agreeing this would be a justified victory. "The Phoenician Scheme" is noted as a surprising omission from the nominations.
Editing: "Sentimental Value" is expected to win, with Bradshaw concurring this recognition would be appropriate. "Die My Love" is identified as a film that deserved nomination consideration in this final technical category.
Anticipating the Ceremony
As the film industry prepares for the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, these predictions offer a comprehensive preview of potential outcomes while highlighting notable omissions that have generated discussion. The actual results will be revealed during the live broadcast, with coverage beginning at 8pm GMT, as Hollywood celebrates another year of cinematic achievement and recognizes the talented individuals who bring these stories to life on the silver screen.
