Universal Pictures/YouTube; Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty; RoadsideFlix/YouTube Early 2026 Oscars contenders are already shaping up after Sundance, Cannes, and more. Jennifer Lopez'sKiss of the Spider Womancould see her rebound after thatHustlerssnub. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are poised for follow-up nominations for theWickedsequel. Asthickly-accentedladies namedAnoraventure off into the night and the legacy ofConclaverecedes into the papal chambers of history, a new crop of earlyOscarscontenders are on the rise to take their place in theupcoming awards race. Positioned for potential glory by influential film festivals includingSundanceandCannes, early contenders for the 2026 Oscars include both high-brow international fare and heavyweight competitors hailing from major movies directed by Hollywood royalty. This year, among the early contenders for Academy Awards glory includeJennifer Lopezrebounding from herHustlerssnubin a new musical, whileCynthia ErivoandAriana Grandeare poised to score consecutive acting recognition for their work in theWickedsequelWicked: For Good— and so, too, might directorJon M. Chu, for his collective work on both films. STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images Below the line, early contenders in technical categories include the28 Years Latermakeup department, the sound team responsible for the buzzy documentaryMarlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, and, of course, the visual effects artists working on titles likeJurassic World Rebirth,Thunderbolts*, and more big-budget blockbusters that typically fill up that category. Also to consider ahead of the next ceremony? The Academy will implement anew category, Best Casting, for the upcoming competitive year, meaning that those who put together starry, ensemble casts for commercial-leaning projects likeSinners,Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, andWicked: For Goodcould earn their respective works another nod in the long run. Check out more from EW'sThe Awardist, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis, and our podcast diving into all the highlights from the year's best in TV, movies, and more. Conan O'Brien returns to host the 2026 Oscars ceremonyon Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT onABC. Ahead of the 98th Academy Awards, read on forEntertainment Weekly's list of early contenders for the 2026 Oscars. A24 Given the Academy's pattern of pulling Best Picture contenders from all corners of the industry (Sundance, Cannes,TIFF, Hollywood's slate of tentpoles, etc.), this race is perhaps the most wide-open of them all. But, early passion for Eva Victor'sSorry, Babyout of Sundance led to a bidding war between several distributors, with awards machineA24winning out and setting the critically lauded film for a summer release. As we've seen in the past, the changing tides of the awards race mean that early release dates can work in a film's favor, so expect the conversation to come back around on this one — if not for Best Picture (yes, it's still super early), then at least for a nomination for the film's screenplay. Cannes' increasing ability to launch surefire contenders from global cinema also can't be discounted at this early stage, withJafar Panahi'sIt Was Just an Accidenttaking the prestigious Palme d'Or prize and, in doing so, cementing the project's status as a contender for both Best Picture and Best Director. A good recent blueprint for this film's potential run through the season would be something like Justine Triet'sAnatomy of a Fall, which won the same award at Cannes ahead of securing prime Oscars positioning. The box office power ofSinnersalso shouldn't be discounted this year, asRyan Coogler's vampire smash has shown incredible strength among audiences and will absolutely be part of the conversation later this year. Be on the lookout forChloé Zhao's directorial follow-up toNomadland,Hamnet, to make waves in the months ahead, as well as similar traction forBugonia,Wicked: For Good,Avatar: Fire and Ash, and theTimothée ChalametvehicleMarty Supreme, among others. Early Best Picture contenders: After the Hunt Avatar: Fire and Ash Bugonia Deliver Me From Nowhere Hamnet Highest 2 Lowest It Was Just an Accident Jay Kelly The Life of Chuck Marty Supreme Nouvelle Vague One Battle After Another Sentimental Value Sinners Sorry, Baby Twinless Wicked: For Good Roy Rochlin/Getty The Academy's directors occupy the group's branch with perhaps the most international-leaning taste, as global filmmakers have found their way into the category in increasing numbers in recent years. Cannes standouts this year likeJoachim Trier(Sentimental Value) andJafar Panahi(It Was Just an Accident) feel like easy considerations for Best Director, but a wealth of more mainstream filmmakers are also early potentials, like the aforementioned Ryan Coogler for his box office smashSinners,Guillermo del Torofor his presumably lavishFrankensteinadaptation, andJames Cameronfor what's shaping up to be yet another technologically marvelousAvatarinstallment. If Chloé Zhao'sHamenthits the same wayNomadlanddid, she could be looking at another strong showing in the category after previously winning Best Director. She'll battle for a spot alongside industry mainstaysPaul Thomas Anderson(One Battle After Another),Spike Lee(Highest 2 Lowest), andRichard Linklater, who has multiple films in contention this year, but the nostalgia-fueledNouvelle Vagueseems primed for Oscar voters' attention. It's Jon M. Chu, however, who poses perhaps the most interesting potential trajectory this year, with the question remaining: Even ifWicked: For Gooddoesn't land the same way with critics, will Oscar voters choose to herald his collective achievement in directing and releasing bothWickedmovies, after he didn't show up in Best Director last year? Early Best Director contenders: Chloé Zhao,Hamnet Guillermo del Toro,Frankenstein James Cameron,Avatar: Fire and Ash Jafar Panahi,It Was Just an Accident Joachim Trier,Sentimental Value Jon M. Chu,Wicked: For Good Paul Thomas Anderson,One Battle After Another Richard Linklater,Nouvelle Vague Ryan Coogler,Sinners Spike Lee,Highest 2 Lowest Vitrine Filmes/YouTube For starters, let's get the most prominent Cannes acting winner out of the way: After a lauded turn in 2024'sCivil War, Wagner Moura won Best Actor at the French film festival for his leading role inThe Secret Agent. The film is a historical political thriller, and this subgenre has proven to be a goldmine for voters in the past, making Moura an automatic early contender for a polished run through the season. Best Actor contenders more recognizable to American audiences include Timothée Chalamet's lightly transformative ping-pong sports filmMarty Supreme, which is loosely based on table tennis icon Marty Reisman. Given that it's another Chalamet performance tackling a real-life figure (following last year'sA Complete Unknown) and that industry voters tend to gravitate toward actors playing actual historical people, the Hollywood prince has another great shot at courting Academy affection. The category is shaping up to be a stacked one, with A-list actors abound in films that stand to gain traction, fromDenzel WashingtoninHighest 2 LowestandHugh JackmaninSong Sung Blue, toColin FarrellinThe Ballad of a Small Player,Leonardo DiCaprioinOne Battle After Another, andJay Kelly'sGeorge Clooney. This year could be a monumental comeback forDaniel Day-Lewisas well, who will return to the screen for the first time sincePhantom Threadas the star ofAnemone, which he co-wrote with his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, who directs. Though still a relatively untested filmmaker, the jury is still out on whetherAnemonewill be a good enough film to break through, but Day-Lewis' name alone — and his grand return to cinema — should be enough to make him an automatic consideration for voters at this early stage. Early Best Actor contenders: Colin Farrell,The Ballad of a Small Player Daniel Day-Lewis,Anemone Denzel Washington,Highest 2 Lowest Dwayne Johnson,The Smashing Machine Ethan Hawke,Blue Moon George Clooney, Jay Kelly Hugh Jackman,Song Sung Blue Jeremy Allen White,Deliver Me From Nowhere Jesse Plemons,Bugonia Joel Edgerton,Train Dreams Leonardo DiCaprio,One Battle After Another Oscar Isaac,Frankenstein Paul Mescal,Hamnet Timothée Chalamet,Marty Supreme Tom Hiddleston,The Life of Chuck Wagner Moura,The Secret Agent Universal Pictures From the jump, early 2025 Best Actress contendersDemi Moore(The Substance) andKarla Sofía Gascon(Emilia Pérez) felt all but assured shortly after their Cannes bows. Cynthia Erivo and Mikey Madison felt increasingly likely as the season progressed, and bothWickedandAnoragarnered good will and golden box office returns, and Fernanda Torres... yeah, we'd like to meet whoever could've seen her coming at this point last year! This year, the race feels far less assured for far fewer contenders. Erivo is somewhat of a lock once again asWickedrebounds (and she'll likely have even meatier material to bite into this time around), and Renate Reinsve carries the weight of a glowing bow forSentimental Valueat Cannes with her. That momentum is powerful enough to sustain across the next few months, with an increasingly international voting base in the Academy even more inclined to look outside the United States' offerings while casting their ballots. This could also be the year forAmy Adamsto finally secure her long-overdue Oscar — but, whether that's forAt the Sea(still questionable as to when this one will finally drop) or in Taika Waititi's Kazuo Ishiguro adaptationKlara and the Sunremains to be seen. Other big-name potentials includeEmma Stone(Bugonia),Cate Blanchett(Father Mother Sister Brother),Jennifer Lawrence(Die, My Love), and evenJulia RobertsinAfter the Hunt. But, it's Jessie Buckley who stands to make the biggest gains or fall out of the race entirely whenHamnetdrops. She's a recognizable dramatic force, but still not a total Hollywood heavyweight who's in the conversation on name alone, like those mentioned before. Early Best Actress contenders: Amy Adams,At the Sea Cate Blanchett,Father Mother Sister Brother Cynthia Erivo,Wicked: For Good Emma Stone,Bugonia Jennifer Lawrence,Die, My Love Jessie Buckley,Hamnet Julia Roberts,After the Hunt Renate Reinsve,Sentimental Value Warner Bros. The Best Supporting Actor race is really a game of association at this point, with familiar awards mainstaysChristoph Waltz(Frankenstein),Sean Penn(One Battle After Another),Benicio Del Toro(One Battle After Another), andAndrew Garfield(After the Hunt) earning credibility here based on past awards experience and the pedigree of their projects. Carrying early festival momentum this year isStellan Skarsgård, whoseSentimental Valuecould break out in wider ways as the race takes shape, while Emmy favorite (and recent Oscar nominee)Jeremy Strongcould also repeat and continue his streak in the category for his work inDeliver Me From Nowhere. While he generated significant interest for his performance in 2020'sDa 5 Bloods,Delroy Lindonow has critical adoration and commercial success bolstering a much stronger bid forSinners. Early Best Supporting Actor contenders: Andrew Garfield,After the Hunt Benicio Del Toro,One Battle After Another Christoph Waltz,Frankenstein Delroy Lindo,Sinners Jeremy Strong,Deliver Me From Nowhere Sean Penn,One Battle After Another Stellan Skarsgård,Sentimental Value Roadside Attractions Both actress categories are shaping up to be similarly starry affairs this year, with Best Supporting Actress including prestigious TV performers such asThe Bear'sAyo Edebiri(After the Hunt)going up against beloved film stars angling for their long-overdue first nominations from the Academy. Two actresses who fall into the latter category areOne Battle After Another'sRegina Hall(please, finally!) and Jennifer Lopez, whose 2019 turn inHustlersearned the best reviews of her career and a heavy haul of precursor nominations on the trail, only to amount to a massive snub from the Academy. That stands to change (potentially) given Lopez'smusically tinged performance inKiss of the Spider Woman, which has more going for it in terms of prestige appeal: It's an adaptation, debuted at Sundance, and features Lopez mastering what she's well-known for doing as an electrifying on-stage performer. Instead of dismissing her as a Hollywood A-lister, audiences may connect with her here the same way they connected with performers such as Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born) or Bette Midler (The Rose) in their Oscar-nominated acting roles that also came in works that capitalized on their stars' musical prowess. And then, there's the ever-present trickiness of weighing the probability ofGlenn Closewinning her first Oscar. She's come close —veryclose — in recent years, particularly forThe Wife, which was a divisive film that contained a superb performance. She could score praise from audiences and critics in the latestKnives Outfilm in a juicy supporting role, and that could fulfill both boxes en route to her first victory, whereasThe Wifereally only had Close going for it in the first place. Early Best Supporting Actress contenders: Amy Adams,Klara and the Sun Ariana Grande,Wicked: For Good Ayo Edebiri,After the Hunt Glenn Close,Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Gwyneth Paltrow,Marty Supreme Jennifer Lopez,Kiss of the Spider Woman Regina Hall,One Battle After Another Tilda Swinton,The Ballad of a Small Player Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
