Oscars 2026: Several Records Could Fall at the 98th Academy Awards

The 98th Academy Awards are just around the corner, promising a night packed with moments that could shake up Oscar history. With a bunch of films and actors vying for top honors, this year's bash might just flip the record books on their heads.

At the heart of the buzz? The battle for the most wins overall. Two flicks are leading the pack: Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, snagging 13 nods, and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which smashed the previous record with 16 nominations.

But here’s the kicker — can either of these films outpace the long-standing mark of 11 wins? That high-water mark has only been hit thrice: Ben-Hur in '59, Titanic in '97, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in '03.

One Battle After Another is in the running for 12 categories, with Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro both eyeing Best Supporting Actor. Still, Sinners seems like the frontrunner to break the record, though it’s far from a sure thing.

Eyes will also be glued to Best Director. Ryan Coogler has etched his name as only the seventh Black director ever nominated. Past contenders include John Singleton, Lee Daniels, Steve McQueen, Barry Jenkins, Jordan Peele, and Spike Lee—none walked away with the statue.

If Coogler takes it home, he’d make history as the first Black Oscar-winning director. That said, many think Paul Thomas Anderson, a multiple-time nominee, might finally snag his first directing prize instead.

Meanwhile, Chloé Zhao, nominated for Hamnet, could also carve out new ground. She won Best Director back in 2021 for Nomadland, and a second win would crown her the first woman to clinch that honor twice.

Only three women have ever taken home Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow in 2010 for The Hurt Locker, Zhao in 2021, and Jane Campion in 2022 for The Power of the Dog.

Several acting categories might also set new precedents.

Jessie Buckley, nominated for Hamnet, could become the first Irish actress to snag Best Actress. So far, Brenda Fricker is the only Irish woman to have won an acting Oscar, earning Best Supporting Actress for My Left Foot.

Emma Stone is also in a unique spot. Nominated for Bugonia and already a two-time Best Actress winner for La La Land and Poor Things, she could join the exclusive club of actresses with three wins—think Katharine Hepburn and Frances McDormand.

Renate Reinsve, up for Sentimental Value, might be the first Norwegian actress to take home Best Actress.

Over in Best Actor, Michael B. Jordan could make waves, playing twins in Sinners—an unprecedented feat for a winner.

Meanwhile, Timothée Chalamet, nominated for Marty Supreme, could become the second-youngest Best Actor ever. Adrien Brody still holds the youth record, winning at 29 for The Pianist in 2003.

Brazilian actor Wagner Moura, nominated for The Secret Agent, stands a chance to become the first Brazilian to win an acting Oscar. Plus, he'd be the first Best Actor winner for a non-English role since Roberto Benigni scored for Life Is Beautiful in 1997.

Supporting categories are ripe for milestones, too. Wunmi Mosaku, nominated for Sinners, could be the first Nigerian to snag any Academy Award.

Sean Penn, up for One Battle After Another, might join a rare group with three acting Oscars—only Daniel Day-Lewis, Jack Nicholson, and Walter Brennan have managed that.

Stellan Skarsgård, nominated for Sentimental Value, could be the first Swedish actor and the first Nordic male to win an acting Oscar.

Amy Madigan, nominated for Weapons, could break a quirky record. A win would mark a 40-year gap between her first nomination—back in 1986 for Twice in a Lifetime—and her first victory.

Best Cinematography might also make history, as no woman has ever taken home that award.

Just three women have been nominated before: Rachel Morrison for Mudbound, Ari Wegner for The Power of the Dog, and Mandy Walker for Elvis.

This year’s nominee, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, nominated for Sinners, is the fourth woman—and the first woman of color—in this category. If she wins, she’ll be the first female recipient ever.

If Sinners grabs Best Picture, producer Zinzi Coogler would become the first Black woman to win that prize. Oprah Winfrey and Kimberly Steward were nominated before but didn’t clinch it.

International films might leave their mark as well. Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, with nine noms, is a favorite for Best International Feature Film—potentially Norway’s first win in that category.

Only one Norwegian film has previously taken home an Oscar: Thor Heyerdahl’s documentary Kon-Tiki back in 1951.

Still, topping Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, which scooped four Oscars including Best Picture, seems a tall order this time around.

The ceremony goes live Sunday, March 15, with Europeans tuning in early Monday. As Hollywood’s biggest night looms, several game-changing milestones hang in the balance—making the 2026 Oscars a show you’ll want to keep an eye on.

Written by Martina Kirchner