The 98th Academy Awards

A Guide to Tonight’s Biggest Nominees and Host Details

Miles J. Edwards March 15, 2026

1 2 minutes read

A Guide to Tonight’s Biggest Nominees and Host Details

Tonight, Hollywood descends upon the Dolby Theatre for the 98th Academy Awards, a ceremony that feels like a collision between a high-octane blockbuster and a classic prestige drama. With the red carpet currently unfolding in Los Angeles, here is your definitive guide to what to expect from the 2026 Oscars.

The Master of Ceremonies

For the second consecutive year, Conan O’Brien returns as host. Known for his self-deprecating wit and love of the absurd, O’Brien has hinted at an “ambitious” opening that may top last year’s performance. His presence provides a steady, comedic hand as the Academy balances a celebration of cinema with the somber realities of global tensions currently dominating the news cycle.

The Main Event: “Sinners” vs. “One Battle After Another”

The biggest storyline of the night is the historic showdown between two titan films that have dominated the 2026 awards season:

Sinners (16 Nominations): Ryan Coogler’s musical horror sensation has made history, breaking the all-time record for most nominations previously held by Titanic and La La Land.
One Battle After Another (13 Nominations): Paul Thomas Anderson’s satirical action-thriller has swept the critical guild awards. Many experts see this as the night Anderson finally secures his long-overdue Best Director statue.

Best Picture Nominees

Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams

Categories to Watch

1. Best Lead Actor: A Generational Clash

The race is a toss-up between Timothée Chalamet, who turned in an infectiously charismatic performance in Marty Supreme, and veteran Leonardo DiCaprio for his role in One Battle After Another. However, don’t count out Michael B. Jordan, who played twin brothers in Sinners, or Wagner Moura, whose nomination for The Secret Agent marks a historic first for a Brazilian man in this category.

2. Best Lead Actress

Jessie Buckley is the heavy favorite for her “impossible to ignore” performance in Hamnet. She faces stiff competition from Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) and Emma Stone (Bugonia).

3. The New Category: Best Casting

Tonight marks the debut of the Best Casting Oscar. Industry veterans are looking at Francine Maisler (Sinners) or Cassandra Kulukundis (One Battle After Another) to take home the inaugural trophy.

Performances and Presenters

The stage will be packed with talent, including a highly anticipated performance of the Oscar-nominated song “I Lied to You” from Sinners, performed by Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq, featuring an homage to the film’s visual style with guests like Misty Copeland and Shaboozey.

Presenters Include: