By Okla Jones ·Updated December 17, 2025 < /> Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled its shortlists for the 98th Academy Awards on Tuesday, offering an early snapshot of how the 2026 Oscars race is shaping up.
Leading the pack are Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and Universal’s Wicked: For Good, the only two films to appear on every shortlist they were eligible for. Both landed mentions across seven categories, including casting, cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, sound, visual effects, and original song, where each earned two slots among the final 15 contenders. It’s a strong showing that positions both titles as serious multi-category players heading into nominations voting.
Sinners marks a particularly big moment for Coogler, whose film picked up recognition in casting, cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, sound, visual effects, and original song. Wicked: For Good matched that momentum, with added attention on its technical craft and soundtrack.
This year’s shortlist announcement also reflects structural changes at the Academy. Two categories are being shortlisted for the first time: Best Casting, which will officially be presented during the Oscar telecast, and Best Cinematography, expanding the total number of awards to 24. Preliminary voting included branches across documentary, international feature, short films, sound, visual effects, makeup and hairstyling, score, and song.
Female representation stands out across the lists. Nine of the casting shortlist films were led by women casting directors, while women directed nearly half of the international feature contenders and the majority of the documentary feature hopefuls—quiet progress, but real progress.
Nominations voting runs from January 12 through January 16, with official Oscar nominations set to be announced on Thursday, January 22. The 2026 Academy Awards will air live on Sunday, March 15, and broadcast on ABC to more than 200 countries worldwide.
Take a look at the shortlist for the 2026 Academy Awards below.
Animated Short FilmAutokarButterflyCardboardÉiruForevergreenThe Girl Who Cried PearlsHurikánI Died in IrpinThe Night BootsPlaying GodThe Quinta’s GhostRetirement PlanThe Shyness of TreesSnow BearThe Three Sisters
CastingFrankensteinHamnetMarty SupremeOne Battle after AnotherThe Secret AgentSentimental ValueSinnersSirâtWeaponsWicked: For Good
CinematographyBallad of a Small PlayerBugoniaDie My LoveF1FrankensteinHamnetMarty SupremeNouvelle VagueOne Battle after AnotherSentimental ValueSinnersSirâtSong Sung BlueSound of FallingTrain DreamsWicked: For Good
Documentary Feature FilmThe Alabama SolutionApocalypse in the TropicsCoexistence, My Ass!Come See Me in the Good LightCover-UpCutting through RocksFolktalesHolding LiatMr. Nobody against PutinMistress DispellerMy Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in MoscowThe Perfect NeighborSeeds2000 Meters to AndriivkaYanuni
Documentary Short FilmAll the Empty RoomsAll the Walls Came DownArmed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent RenaudBad HostageCashing OutChasing TimeChildren No More: Were and Are GoneClassroom 4The Devil Is BusyHeartbeatLast Days on Lake TrinityOn Healing Land, Birds PerchPerfectly a StrangenessRovina’s ChoiceWe Were the Scenery
International Feature FilmArgentina, BelénBrazil, The Secret AgentFrance, It Was Just an AccidentGermany, Sound of FallingIndia, HomeboundIraq, The President’s CakeJapan, KokuhoJordan, All That’s Left of YouNorway, Sentimental ValuePalestine, Palestine 36South Korea, No Other ChoiceSpain, SirâtSwitzerland, Late ShiftTaiwan, Left-Handed GirlTunisia, The Voice of Hind Rajab
Live Action Short FilmAdoAmarelaBeyond SilenceThe Boy with White SkinButcher’s StainButterfly on a WheelDad’s Not HomeExtremistA Friend of DorothyJane Austen’s Period DramaPantyhoseThe Pearl CombRock, Paper, ScissorsThe SingersTwo People Exchanging Saliva
Makeup and HairstylingThe Alto KnightsFrankensteinKokuhoMarty SupremeNurembergOne Battle after AnotherSinnersThe Smashing MachineThe Ugly StepsisterWicked: For Good
Music (Original Score)Avatar: Fire and AshBugoniaCaptain America: Brave New WorldDiane Warren: RelentlessF1FrankensteinHamnetHeddaA House of DynamiteJay KellyMarty SupremeNurembergOne Battle after AnotherSinnersSirâtTrain DreamsTron: AresTruth and TreasonWake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out MysteryWicked: For Good
Music (Original Song)As Alive As You Need Me To Be from Tron: AresDear Me from Diane Warren: RelentlessDream As One from Avatar: Fire and AshDrive from F1Dying To Live from Billy Idol Should Be DeadThe Girl In The Bubble from Wicked: For GoodGolden from KPop Demon HuntersHighest 2 Lowest from Highest 2 LowestI Lied To You from SinnersLast Time (I Seen The Sun) from SinnersNo Place Like Home from Wicked: For GoodOur Love from The Ballad of Wallis IslandSalt Then Sour Then Sweet from Come See Me in the Good LightSweet Dreams Of Joy from Viva Verdi!Train Dreams from Train Dreams
SoundAvatar: Fire and AshF1FrankensteinMission: Impossible – The Final ReckoningOne Battle after AnotherSinnersSirâtSpringsteen: Deliver Me from NowhereSupermanWicked: For Good
Visual EffectsAvatar: Fire and AshThe Electric StateF1FrankensteinJurassic World RebirthThe Lost BusSinnersSupermanTron: AresWicked: For Good
TOPICS: Academy Awards Cynthia Erivo Sinners Wicked: For GoodThe post Oscars Shortlist 2026: Sinners And Wicked: For Good Lead This Year’s Race appeared first on Essence.
