The 98th Academy Awards ceremony on March 15, 2026, promises something special. With 11 first-time acting nominees across the four performance categories, this year’s Oscars celebrates fresh talent in a way we haven’t seen in recent memory. Conan O’Brien returns as host for the second consecutive year after hosting the 2025 ceremony, ready to guide us through a night of potential historic firsts.
First-Time Oscar Nominees at the 2026 Academy Awards:
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)
- Best Actress: Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue)
- Best Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Delroy Lindo (Sinners), Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)
- Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value)
What makes this group particularly compelling isn’t just their talent. It’s the diversity of their backgrounds, the authenticity of their performances, and the cultural significance of their breakthrough roles. From Nigerian-British actress Wunmi Mosaku to Brazilian trailblazer Wagner Moura, from pop star-turned-actress Teyana Taylor to Australian heartthrob Jacob Elordi, these nominees represent a generational shift in how the Academy recognizes talent.
The Record-Breaking Context
Sinners shattered Oscar history with 16 nominations, the most any film has ever received. It breaks the previous record of 14 held by All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016). The film earned $368 million globally and features three first-time acting nominees.
The Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value made its own history with nine nominations and four acting nods from a single international film, including three first-timers. The 2026 Oscars also features the most female nominees in Academy history at 74 total, along with four non-English language acting performances.
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Michael B. Jordan’s first Oscar nomination for playing twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore in Sinners represents the culmination of his 12-year collaboration with director Ryan Coogler. “I’ve been in this industry for quite some time. I’ve always looked up to the Academy, the actors, and filmmakers who have inspired me throughout my life,” Jordan told The Hollywood Reporter.
Jordan describes the dual role as “a love letter to my grandparents and my ancestors and those who are sharecroppers from the Deep South and my cultural roots.” His performance required him to distinguish between the pragmatic Smoke and the charming Stack, both criminal twins who return to their hometown in Jim Crow-era Mississippi.
Coogler became only the seventh Black filmmaker to receive a Best Director nomination. If both win on March 15, Coogler could become the first Black director to win in the category in the Academy’s 98-year history.
Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Wagner Moura made history as the first Brazilian nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his powerful portrayal of a professor navigating Brazil’s military dictatorship in Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent. “The Secret Agent is a film about memory, or the lack of memory, and generational trauma,” Moura stated during his Golden Globe acceptance speech.
Moura’s journey began at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where he won the Best Actor prize, making him the first South American actor to earn this accolade. He becomes the third Brazilian nominated for an acting Oscar, joining Fernanda Montenegro and her daughter Fernanda Torres.
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Rose Byrne received her first Oscar nomination for her intense performance as Linda in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Playing a woman whose life spirals into chaos as she navigates her child’s mysterious illness, an absent husband, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist, Byrne delivers what critics have called a “gutsy star turn.” “I am speechless and immensely honored to be among this extraordinary group of women,” Byrne stated.
The recognition comes after she won the Silver Bear at Berlin, the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, and accolades from major film critics associations. The film has a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve earned her first Oscar nomination for playing Nora Borg in Sentimental Value. In the film, Reinsve portrays the estranged daughter of a renowned filmmaker who re-enters her life seeking reconciliation by offering her the lead role in his comeback film. Her work anchors the film’s emotional core.
Reinsve’s nomination is part of a historic showing for Sentimental Value, which received nine total nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, Best International Feature, and Best Original Screenplay.
Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Teyana Taylor’s transition from music to serious acting reached its peak with her Best Supporting Actress nomination for playing Perfidia Hills in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. Already a Golden Globe winner for the role, Taylor’s performance in the second-most nominated film of the year has positioned her as a formidable contender.
As a successful recording artist, fashion designer, and future feature director, Taylor represents a new generation of multidisciplinary artists who refuse to be confined to a single creative lane.
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
British-Nigerian actress Wunmi Mosaku’s first Oscar nomination for her supporting role in Sinners represents a career-defining moment for a performer who has steadily built an impressive resume across British and American productions. Born in Zaria, Nigeria, Mosaku moved to Manchester, England, at 18 months old. Her path to Oscar recognition began at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where shegraduated in 2007 with a BA in Acting.
More recently, Mosaku became known through her roles as Hunter B-15 in Loki (2021-2023) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), as well as HBO’s Lovecraft Country (2020). Reflecting on her nomination, Mosaku told Variety: “My reaction was to ask my husband, ‘Why are you on the phone so early and so loud?’ He replied, ‘You got nominated for an Oscar!'”
Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value
Elle Fanning’s first Oscar nomination for playing Rachel Kemp in Sentimental Value caps an extraordinary year. “IS THIS REAL!?!?!?! IS THIS A DREAM!?!?!?!” Fanning posted on Instagram following the announcement.
In the film, Fanning portrays a Hollywood actress recruited by Stellan Skarsgård’s filmmaker character for a leading role in his project after his daughter declines the offer. Director Joachim Trier noted: “Elle has the experience of someone in their 40s, having started acting as a young child.” “What an honor to have my first Academy Award nomination be for a film that acknowledges the power of moviemaking and family!” Fanning wrote.
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
Perhaps the most unexpected nomination belongs to Norwegian actress Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for her performance as Agnes Borg in Sentimental Value. Born in Gol, Norway, to theatre performer parents, Lilleaas seemed destined for the stage.
In Sentimental Value, Lilleaas stars as Agnes, the younger sister and peacemaker within the complicated Borg family, navigating the tension between her estranged filmmaker father and her sister Nora. Her win at the National Board of Review Awards signaled Academy support, but few predicted she would secure a nomination in such a competitive year.
Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
Jacob Elordi’s first Oscar nomination for playing The Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein marks a transformational moment. At 28, Elordi has quickly transitioned from teen heartthrob to serious dramatic actor.
Elordi’s portrayal required extensive prosthetics and emotional vulnerability as he brought Mary Shelley’s iconic creation to life. Frankenstein earned nine Oscar nominations total. “I am beyond thrilled. I mean, I’m 28 years old. It’s like wind in my sails,” Elordi said.
Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Delroy Lindo’s first Oscar nomination for playing Delta Slim in Sinners represents long-overdue recognition for one of cinema’s most consistently excellent performers. Born to Jamaican parents, Lindo has built an extraordinary career spanning five decades.
Many believed Lindo should have received an Oscar nomination for Da 5 Bloods (2020), for which he won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor. In Sinners, Lindo portrays a famed blues harmonica player, infusing the character with “a brilliant blend of humor and emotional depth”.
Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value
Stellan Skarsgård’s first Oscar nomination at age 74 for playing Gustav Borg in Sentimental Value carries historic significance. He becomes the first actor from an international film to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the category’s 98-year history.
The nomination comes as Skarsgård continues his recovery from a 2022 stroke. In Sentimental Value, Skarsgård portrays an absent filmmaker father seeking to mend his relationship with his estranged daughter by casting her in his comeback film. “This sorrowful figure is quite humorous,” he explained. “But he’s going about it all wrong. It’s both funny and incredibly tragic.”
Where to Watch These Performances
Several Oscar-nominated films are now available on streaming platforms in the Philippines. Sinners is streaming on HBO Max, giving Filipino viewers access to Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance. Frankenstein is available on Netflix, complete with Filipino subtitles.
One Battle After Another can be found on HBO Max. For Sentimental Value, Filipino audiences can rent or purchase through Prime Video and Apple TV.
These first-time nominees have already made history simply by being nominated. They represent Nigerian immigrants and Swedish acting dynasties, pop stars and theatre-trained British performers, Brazilian television veterans and Australian heartthrobs who’ve earned their place through extraordinary performances. Whether Michael B. Jordan wins for honoring his ancestors or Wagner Moura becomes the first Brazilian Best Actor winner, March 15 promises historic firsts that will inspire the next generation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is the 2026 Academy Awards ceremony?
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Conan O’Brien will host for the second consecutive year.
How many first-time acting nominees are there at the 2026 Oscars?
There are 11 first-time acting nominees across the four performance categories at the 2026 Oscars.
Which film received the most Oscar nominations in 2026?
Sinners received 16 nominations, breaking the previous record of 14. This makes it the most nominated film in Oscar history.
Who is the first Brazilian nominated for Best Actor?
Wagner Moura made history as the first Brazilian actor nominated for Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his role in The Secret Agent.
What makes Stellan Skarsgård’s nomination historic?
Stellan Skarsgård became the first actor from an international film to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the category’s 98-year history.
Could Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn make Oscar history?
If Kate Hudson wins on March 15, she and her mother Goldie Hawn would become the first mother-daughter pair to both win acting Oscars. Hawn won Best Supporting Actress for Cactus Flower in 1970, while Hudson was previously nominated for Almost Famous in 2001.
How many female nominees are there at the 2026 Oscars?
The 2026 Oscars feature 74 female nominees, the most in Academy history.
What is the new Oscar category introduced in 2026?
Best Casting was introduced as a new category for the first time in Oscar history.
Where can I watch these Oscar-nominated films in the Philippines?
Sinners and One Battle After Another are streaming on HBO Max, while Frankenstein is available on Netflix. Sentimental Value can be rented or purchased through Prime Video and Apple TV.
