The 2026 Oscar nominations have been unveiled, and there are 11 first-time acting nominees, including Jacob Elordi, Elle Fanning, Michael B. Jordan and Teyana Taylor.
Jordan earned his first nod tied to his performance in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which was a dominating force among the nominees. The film received the most Oscar nominations ever, with a whopping 16 nominations across coveted categories including lead actor (for Jordan), director and original screenplay. After learning the news, Jordan told The Hollywood Reporter he was “still digesting” the fact the movie broke the nomination record, adding, “It’s something that’s really hard to put into words right now.”
Sinners stars Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo were also nominated for the first time, for best supporting actress and actor, respectively. Mosaku told THR she mistook the time of the announcement and was waken up by her husband with the landmark news. “I got the East Coast time, so I was asleep. My husband came in. I was like, ‘What is going on? Why are you on the phone at 5:30 in the morning?’ He’s like, ‘You’ve been nominated for an Oscar!’”
Frankenstein received the third highest set of nominations, including Elordi’s first nod for supporting actor. After the announcement, he told THR he was “beside myself” and “so excited.”
Elordi is up against fellow first-time nominees Lindo and Stellan Skarsgard in the supporting actor category. Skarsgård was recognized for his role as Gustav Borg in Sentimental Value, with the nom coming shortly after he won his second Golden Globe.
Sentimental Value matched Frankenstein‘s nine nominations, with Skarsgard’s co-star’s Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas also earning their first Oscar nominations. They are nominated in the best supporting actress category, where four out of the five women up for the title are also first-time nominees. Fanning and Lilleaas will battle it out for the Oscar alongside fellow rookie nominees Mosaku and Teyana Taylor.
Taylor portrayed Perfidia Beverly Hills in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, the second most-nominated film at the 2026 Academy Awards (with 13). Her first Oscar nomination arrived after she notably won her first Golden Globe.
Two of the best lead actress and actor nominees received their first-ever Oscar nods on Thursday. Alongside Jordan, Wagner Moura also received praise for his performance in The Secret Agent, which earned itself a best picture nom. Moura’s recognition comes fresh off a Golden Globe win for best drama actor.
Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) and Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value) also earned their debut Oscar nominations in the best lead actress category. Byrne just won the Golden Globe for best actress in a musical or comedy film, and told THR that receiving an Oscar nom “definitely feels like a monumental moment to have this acknowledgement.”
Find the full list of 2026 Oscar nominees here.
The 98th Oscars, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will air live on ABC and streaming on Hulu from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
