Oscars 2026 nominations: Sinners overtakes Titanic and La La Land with record 16 nods

The 98th Academy Awards nominations delivered a historic moment on Thursday as Sinners became the most-nominated film in Oscars history, securing 16 nods, the highest ever in the ceremony’s 98-year run.

The previous record of 14 nominations was jointly held by All About Eve, Titanic and La La Land.

This year’s nominations were announced by actor Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman.

A sweeping showing across major categories

Directed by Ryan Coogler, Sinners led the field with nominations across nearly every major category, including Best Picture, Best Director, Original Screenplay, acting honours, and multiple technical awards.

Set in 1932 Mississippi Delta, the film stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers who return to their hometown during the Jim Crow era, only to confront a sinister supernatural force.

Jordan earned a Best Actor nomination, while Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku were recognised in the supporting categories. The ensemble cast also includes Hailee Steinfeld, Jayme Lawson, Miles Caton, Omar Benson Miller and Delroy Lindo.

Coogler reacts: ‘Pretty crazy’

Reacting to the milestone, Coogler told Deadline that the scale of recognition came as a surprise.

“I did not have any expectations when it came to recognition,” he said. “For me, people showing up to the movies and having a good time would have been enough. That people would consider the craft individually is incredibly rewarding.”

He added that the nominations reflected his pride in the film and gratitude toward the cast and crew who “said yes” to the project.

How the rest of the field stacks up

Following Sinners, One Battle After Another emerged as the second most-nominated film with 13 nods. Sentimental Value, Frankenstein and Marty Supreme followed with nine nominations each.

In the Best Actor category, Jordan will compete against Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura.

When and where to watch

The 98th Academy Awards will be held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Conan O’Brien returning as host.