By By Elizabeth Ugbo
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday in Los Angeles, where Hollywood will crown its biggest winners. The ceremony airs live on ABC and Hulu at 4:00 pm local time. Host Conan O’Brien returns for a second year. Top nominees include Sinners, One Battle, and Sentimental Value. Meanwhile, film fans worldwide wait to see who wins the biggest awards.
Best Picture Race Remains Wide Open
The 2026 Oscars feature one of the tightest Best Picture races in years.
Industry experts believe Sinners and One Battle lead the competition. However, the final outcome remains uncertain.
Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, earned a record-breaking 16 nominations. The vampire period horror film also became one of the year’s biggest box-office hits.
Meanwhile, One Battle secured 13 nominations. The film follows a retired revolutionary searching for his teenage daughter amid social unrest.
Critics say the film’s unusual mix of action, politics, and dark humor impressed many Academy voters.
Ryan Coogler Eyes Historic Best Director Win
Director Ryan Coogler could make history at this year’s Oscars.
If he wins Best Director for Sinners, he would become the first Black filmmaker to receive the award in the Academy’s history.
Coogler previously directed the blockbuster Black Panther, which earned multiple Oscar nominations.
Analysts say strong industry support could help push him across the finish line.
Paul Thomas Anderson Seeks First Oscar
Another major storyline centers on Paul Thomas Anderson.
Despite directing acclaimed films like There Will Be Blood and Boogie Nights, Anderson has never won an Oscar.
His film One Battle could finally bring him the Academy Award after 11 previous nominations.
Acting Categories Become Unpredictable
This year’s acting races remain unusually uncertain.
Early predictions favored Timothée Chalamet for his role in Marty Supreme. However, controversial remarks about ballet and opera damaged his chances.
Now, Michael B. Jordan has gained momentum. He plays twin brothers in Sinners and recently won the Screen Actors Guild award.
Other contenders include Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle and Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon.
Supporting Acting Awards Also Up for Grabs
Competition remains fierce in the supporting categories.
Sean Penn could win a third Oscar for his soldier role in One Battle.
However, strong challengers include Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value and Delroy Lindo, nominated for Sinners.
For Supporting Actress, contenders include Amy Madigan for Weapons, Teyana Taylor for One Battle, and Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners.
Meanwhile, many analysts believe Jessie Buckley will win for Hamnet.
Best International Feature Film Could Surprise
The international film category also promises suspense.
Norway’s Sentimental Value competes against Brazil’s The Secret Agent.
Both films received strong festival reactions, making the category difficult to predict.
Music Performances and Special Tributes
The ceremony will feature several musical moments.
Singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami will perform the nominated song Golden from KPop Demon Hunters.
Additionally, reports suggest Barbra Streisand may perform a tribute to her The Way We Were co-star Robert Redford.
Record-Breaking Possibilities at the Oscars
Several records could fall during the ceremony.
If Sinners wins multiple categories, it could challenge the record of 11 Oscars. That record belongs to Ben-Hur, Titanic, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Still, analysts say the Best Picture race will likely remain uncertain until the final envelope opens.
As awards expert Clayton Davis noted, “Until the final envelope is opened, we won’t know who wins.”
