Jessie Buckley Leads Irish Oscar Hopefuls at the 98th Academy Awards

The 98th Academy Awards are set to take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, with Jessie Buckley leading the charge for Irish talent. Buckley is nominated for Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, a performance that could make her the first Irish woman to win in that category. She is joined by Richard Baneham, nominated for Best Visual Effects for Avatar: Fire and Ash, and the team behind the Irish short film Retirement Plan, vying for Best Animated Short Film.

Jessie Buckley’s Historic Bid

Jessie Buckley’s nomination for Best Actress marks a significant moment for Irish representation at the Oscars. Her performance in Hamnet has already garnered critical acclaim, including wins at the Critics’ Choice Awards, BAFTA Film Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Golden Globes . Hamnet itself is likewise nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Chloé Zhao), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell).

Richard Baneham’s Third Oscar Attempt

Richard Baneham, a Dublin native and already a two-time Oscar winner, is hoping to add a third statuette to his collection. He is nominated for Best Visual Effects for his perform on Avatar: Fire and Ash .

Retirement Plan: An Irish Short Film in the Spotlight

Retirement Plan, directed by John Kelly and produced by Kelly and Andrew Freedman, is nominated for Best Animated Short Film. The film, backed by Screen Ireland’s Frameworks scheme in partnership with RTÉ, has been a success story this awards season and will air on RTÉ One at 10:50 PM on Oscar night, also available on the RTÉ Player .

Further Irish Connections

Ireland’s presence at the awards extends beyond these three nominees. Bugonia, featuring Element Pictures among its production companies, is nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Blue Moon, produced by Wild Atlantic Pictures, has nominations for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor (Ethan Hawke) .

How to Watch

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be broadcast on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, beginning at 11:00 PM on Sunday, March 15, 2026 . The ceremony will be hosted by Conan O’Brien.