Oscar Nominations 2026: A Rollercoaster of Snubs and Surprises
The announcement of the 2026 Academy Award nominations on Thursday morning delivered a potent mix of expected triumphs and jaw-dropping omissions. In a year celebrated for its cinematic strength, the brutal limitations of the nomination process inevitably led to some high-profile casualties, with several widely predicted contenders finding themselves on the outside looking in.
Notable Snubs That Stunned Observers
Ariana Grande and "Wicked: For Good" faced a particularly stark rejection. Despite the original "Wicked" securing a staggering ten nominations last year, its much darker sequel failed to register a single nod. While the film's cooler critical reception may have played a role, the omission of Grande's effervescent performance as Glinda in the Supporting Actress category was a genuine shock. This also meant Cynthia Erivo was overlooked for Best Actress, and the film was roundly rejected in craft and song categories.
Paul Mescal, delivering an achingly poignant performance as a grieving William Shakespeare in "Hamnet," was another major casualty. Many considered him a sure thing for a Best Actor nomination, which would have been his second following his 2023 nod for "Aftersun." His absence was felt deeply.
Other significant snubs included Guillermo del Toro for Best Director for his passion project "Frankenstein," which earned nine other nominations. Chase Infiniti's arresting screen debut in "One Battle After Another," Amanda Seyfried's visceral turn in "The Testament of Ann Lee," and the critically adored anime blockbuster "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" were also conspicuously absent from their respective categories.
Welcome Surprises and Long-Overdue Recognition
Amid the disappointments, there were several heartening surprises. The morning's best news for many was Delroy Lindo earning his first-ever Oscar nomination for Supporting Actor for his role as Delta Slim in "Sinners." This long-overdue recognition came at the expense of another predicted nominee.
Kate Hudson rode a wave of celebrity support and goodwill into the hyper-competitive Best Actress category for "Song Sung Blue," marking her first acting nomination in 25 years. In a nod to genre diversity, Amy Madigan broke into the Supporting Actress race for the horror film "Weapons."
Further surprises included Ethan Hawke securing a Best Actor nod for "Blue Moon," and the crowd-pleasing Formula One drama "F1" sneaking into the Best Picture lineup, a category that also saw the complete shutout of Noah Baumbach's industry ode, "Jay Kelly."
The nominations underscored the unpredictable nature of awards season, where campaigning, industry sentiment, and sheer surprise can overturn even the most confident predictions.
