2026 Oscars: Potential History-Making Moments and Records to Watch

The 98th Annual Academy Awards, taking place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, promises a night of potential milestones and record-breaking achievements. With 317 feature films eligible for nomination, and nine films nominated, several individuals and films are poised to produce history.

Record-Breaking Potential for ‘Sinners’

The American horror film Sinners has already distinguished itself by receiving a total of 16 nominations – the most of any film since the inception of the Oscars in 1929. If Sinners wins 11 awards, it will equal the record currently held by Ben-Hur (1960), Titanic (1998), and The Return of the King (2004). A win of 12 awards would establish a novel record for the most Oscars won by a single film.

Ryan Coogler’s Potential First

Sinners director Ryan Coogler is nominated for Best Director. A win for Coogler would mark the first time a Black director has received this award. Ang Lee was the first non-white director to win the award, taking home the prize in 2006 for Brokeback Mountain. Lee later won again in 2013 for Life of Pi, Bong Joon Ho won in 2020 for Parasite, and Chloe Zhao won in 2021 for Nomadland.

Chloe Zhao’s Chance to Make History

Chloe Zhao, also nominated for Best Director for Hamnet, has the opportunity to become the first woman to win the award twice. She joins Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, 2010) and Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog, 2022) as one of only three women to have ever won the Best Director Oscar.

Irish Star Jessie Buckley’s Potential Triumph

Jessie Buckley, starring in Hamnet, is widely expected to win the Best Actress award. If she does, she will become the first Irish performer to be named Best Actress at the Oscars. Cillian Murphy won Best Actor for Ireland in 2024 for his role in Oppenheimer. Barry Fitzgerald won Best Supporting Actor in 1945 for Going My Way, and Brenda Fricker won Best Supporting Actress in 1990 for My Left Foot.

British Talent and a Potential Fifth Consecutive Washout

British performers have failed to win any of the four acting Oscars for the past four years. In 2026, no British performers are nominated for Best Actor or Best Actress – a first since 2012. The UK is represented by Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku, both nominated for their roles in Sinners, in the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories, respectively. Wunmi Mosaku has already won this year’s Bafta for best supporting actress.

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas’s Potential First for Norway

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, nominated for Best Supporting Actress, could become the first person from Norway to win an acting Oscar in any category.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s Groundbreaking Nomination

Autumn Durald Arkapaw has made history as the first Black woman to be nominated for Best Cinematography for her function on Sinners. A win would make her the first Black woman, and the first woman to win the award. Peter Pau was the first non-white man to win the award in 2001 for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Ruth E. Carter’s Potential Hat Trick

Ruth E. Carter, nominated for Best Costume Design for Sinners, could become the first Black designer to win three Oscars, having previously won in 2019 for Black Panther and in 2023 for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.