Oscars 2026 Shortlists Announced: Wicked: For Good, Sinners, Frankenstein and Avatar: Fire and Ash Dominate 12 Categories
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially announced the Oscar shortlists for the 98th Academy Awards, offering the first clear snapshot of the films gaining traction across the Academy’s branches ahead of final voting. The shortlists span 12 categories, including Visual Effects, Sound, Original Song, Original Score, Cinematography, International Feature Film, Documentary Feature, and the newly established Best Casting category.
Films Leading the Oscar 2026 Shortlists
Two films have emerged as the early leaders: Wicked: For Good and Sinners. Both titles are the only feature films this year to appear on every shortlist for which they were eligible, earning seven shortlist mentions each. Their dominance extends across technical, music, and craft categories, signaling broad, cross-branch support within the Academy.
Frankenstein follows closely with six shortlist mentions, landing in nearly all the categories it qualified for, missing only Original Song. Strong showings were also recorded by F1, One Battle After Another, and Spain’s Sirât, each of which earned five shortlist placements. Sirât stands out in particular as the most widely embraced international contender, receiving recognition beyond the International Feature Film category.
Visual Effects Shortlist Highlights Major Franchise Contenders
The Best Visual Effects shortlist underscores the Academy’s continued focus on large-scale, effects-driven filmmaking. Returning to the race is James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, which once again secured a place among the top VFX contenders. The film joins a competitive lineup that includes Wicked: For Good, Sinners, Tron: Ares, Superman, Frankenstein, Jurassic World Rebirth, The Electric State, F1, and The Lost Bus.
Despite its strong performance in Visual Effects and Sound, Avatar: Fire and Ash did not advance to the newly introduced Cinematography shortlist, continuing a trend seen with Avatar: The Way of Water, which was similarly overlooked in that category despite its technical acclaim.
Cinematography Receives Its First-Ever Oscar Shortlist
In a significant change to the awards process, the Academy introduced shortlists for Best Cinematography for the first time. This move places the category alongside other craft disciplines that receive early consideration and visibility. Films advancing in Cinematography include F1, Frankenstein, Sinners, Sirât, Wicked: For Good, and Marty Supreme, among others.
Music Categories See Familiar Names and Multiple Entries
The Original Song and Original Score shortlists once again spotlight veteran songwriter Diane Warren, whose song “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless advanced in the Original Song race. If nominated, the track would mark Warren’s 17th Academy Award nomination, extending her record as the most-nominated songwriter in Oscar history. The film’s score also made the shortlist, reinforcing the music branch’s consistent support for Warren’s work.
Both Wicked: For Good and Sinners earned two Original Song shortlist entries each, a rare achievement that highlights their strength in the music categories.
International Feature Film and Global Representation
The International Feature Film shortlist includes a landmark moment for Iraq, with The President’s Cake becoming the country’s first film to advance to this stage of Oscar voting. Spain’s Sirât emerged as the strongest international performer overall, securing shortlist mentions in multiple categories.
Notably, seven of the 15 international films shortlisted are directed by women, reflecting a particularly strong year for female filmmakers on the global stage.
Documentary Feature Delivers Predictable Surprises
As in previous years, the Documentary branch charted its own course. Several high-profile and critically praised documentaries, including Mariska Hargitay’s My Mom Jayne and Raoul Peck’s Orwell: 2+2=5, failed to make the shortlist. The omissions continue the branch’s longstanding tendency to favor politically and socially driven narratives over celebrity- or entertainment-focused subjects.
What’s Next in the Oscars 2026 Timeline
Oscar nomination voting will take place from January 12 through January 16, 2026, with the official nominations set to be announced on January 22, 2026. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, bringing an awards season shaped early by strong showings in Visual Effects, Sound, Music, and Craft categories.
With momentum building across multiple branches, Wicked: For Good, Sinners, Frankenstein, and Avatar: Fire and Ash have firmly established themselves as the key films to watch as the 2026 Oscar race intensifies.
