The 2026 Oscar nominations brought a ton of gasp-inducing moments—shocking inclusions, diabolical omissions, and plenty of tea leaves to read for awards season prognosticators. Here are the 11 most confounding snubs and galvanizing surprises we can’t stop talking about.
Snub: Ariana Grande for Wicked: For Good
There was a time, shortly after the Wicked sequel came out, when it looked like our Glinda was on track to win the best-supporting-actress Oscar. She got close last year, and this felt like her moment—but then the film underperformed with audiences and critics. On Oscar nominations morning, Wicked: For Good recieved not a single nomination. (The first Wicked got 10.) At one point, it was seen as a shoo-in for the 10-strong best-picture line-up, but no, it missed even in best production design and costume design (two prizes it won last time, and was once predicted to scoop this time), as well as cinematography, make-up and hairstyling, and original song (for its two new entries, “The Girl in the Bubble” and “No Place Like Home”), not to mention Cynthia Erivo in best actress. Truly astounding.
Surprise: Elle Fanning for Sentimental Value
If you can believe it, the Hollywood stalwart has never before been nominated for an Oscar. (She was snubbed just last year for A Complete Unknown.) As the supporting-actress category grew more competitive, it seemed like she would fall out of the running once again—but thankfully, she made it in for her sensitive turn in Joachim Trier’s Norwegian family drama. It netted an impressive nine nods in total, including best picture.
Surprise: Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo for Sinners
Michael B. Jordan was widely tipped to make the best-actor shortlist for Ryan Coogler’s vampire saga, but the fate of his two co-stars looked more uncertain. They shouldn’t have worried, though—nominations morning brought Sinners an earth-shattering 16 nominations, the most in Oscars history. Among them is Mosaku in best supporting actress and Lindo in best supporting actor. Praise be.
Surprise: Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue
If Grande’s omission was the sole biggest snub of the morning, the biggest surprise was the inclusion of this industry veteran, who was last nominated for an Oscar a whopping quarter of a century ago for Almost Famous, in best actress. Her Neil Diamond tribute band musical has been something of a sleeper hit amongst voters and there were whispers that she might make the shortlist—she was already Golden Globe- and SAG-nominated for it, after all—but to actually see her on this list is still jaw dropping.
Snub: Chase Infiniti for One Battle After Another
Hudson sneaking in meant that the startlingly assured lead of Paul Thomas Anderson’s revolutionary epic sadly didn’t make the cut for best actress. At 25, she’ll have many more chances going forward, naturally, but she did deserve to be here. It’s also a shame that, without her, we’re left with an all-white best-actress line-up.
Snub: Paul Mescal for Hamnet
Hamnet came off a high from the Golden Globes, having beaten Sinners to the best-drama statuette. It got a very respectable eight Oscar nominations this morning, but crucially missed out in best cinematography and editing (getting a nod in the latter category is a crucial bellwether for a best-picture win). So did Paul Mescal, previously considered a lock, in best supporting actor for his portrayal of a gruff William Shakespeare. Still, the Irish heartthrob has at least been nominated before (for Aftersun in 2023) and will, I suspect, be in the mix again very soon. (After all, he’ll be playing Paul McCartney next…) As for the film’s fortunes as a whole, this could be an indication that Sinners is now moving into second place in the best-picture race after One Battle After Another, as Hamnet slips into third.
Snub: Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein
God bless the three-time Oscar-winning Mexican auteur, who has mounted a hell of a campaign for his divisive monster movie, dragging it from a polarizing Venice Film Festival premiere to establish it as a major awards-season contender via an endless string of interviews, events, and exhibitions. His efforts have been rewarded with a formidable nine nominations—but, in a cruel twist of fate, the helmer missed out on a best-director slot, despite getting himself into best picture and adapted screenplay. Frankenstein is unlikely to triumph in either of those categories, however, and knowing del Toro, he’ll wholeheartedly channel his energies into ensuring his wider team secures as many prizes as possible. From Jacob Elordi in best supporting actor, to the nods for best costume, production design, and make-up and hairstyling, multiple wins feel likely.
Snub: It Was Just an Accident
Spare a thought for Jafar Panahi, the Palme d’Or-winning Iranian director, a dissident who was recently sentenced to yet another term in prison following the international success of his pitch-black comedy inspired by his last imprisonment. Once considered a strong best-picture contender, It Was Just an Accident received only two nominations—best international feature and original screenplay—and Panahi, tragically, missed out in best director, too. The history of recent Palme d’Or winners netting best picture nods and wins (Anora, Anatomy of a Fall, Triangle of Sadness, Parasite) temporarily ends here. In its place, another Cannes hit, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent, did get into best picture, as well as landing three other nominations.
Surprise: F1
Taking the place of Panahi’s lauded arthouse release on the best-picture line-up? Joseph Kosinski’s big, fun, breathless racing movie, which also got into best editing, sound, and visual effects—proof that no matter how international and high-brow the Academy gets, crowd-pleasing blockbusters never go out of fashion.
Surprise: Bugonia
Yorgos Lanthimos’s sci-fi oddity could have easily recieved zero nominations. (Yes, The Favourite won an Oscar from nine nods, and Poor Things secured four from 11, but Kinds of Kindness was totally ignored.) However, the Academy clearly still has a soft spot for the Greek provocateur—Bugonia got four nods, including in best picture and best actress for Emma Stone’s magnetic lead performance. Jesse Plemons, long discussed as a best-actor prospect, couldn’t squeeze in, but this filmmaking team will certainly be pleased this morning.
Surprise: The Voice of Hind Rajab
Sentimental Value, It Was Just an Accident, The Secret Agent, and Sirât were all looking secure in the best-international-film category, but with Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice surging, it was beginning to feel like Kaouther Ben Hania’s searing retelling of the true story of a little girl caught under fire in Gaza might not get a single Oscar nod. But, hearteningly, it did make it in here. In truth, it deserved recognition across the board, including in best picture, but to know that the Academy didn’t fully shut it out? Well, there’s no better news on Oscar nominations day.
