Credit...Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times
2026 Oscar Nominations to Be Unveiled by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman
by https://www.nytimes.com/by/brooks-barnes · NY TimesA lot of people in Hollywood are about to have a very good morning. And some will want to pull the covers over their heads in dismay.
Danielle Brooks, an Oscar nominee for the 2024 musical “The Color Purple,” and Lewis Pullman, known for “Top Gun: Maverick,” will announce the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards at 8:30 a.m. Eastern on Thursday. A live feed from the academy’s headquarters in Beverly Hills, Calif., will be shown on ABC, Disney+, TikTok and YouTube, among other platforms.
The Oscars will expand by one category: For the first time, casting directors (up to two per film) will be eligible for a trophy. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last added a competitive category (animated film) in 2001.
Yes, this probably means the telecast will get even longer. Last year’s show stretched to three hours and 50 minutes. The Oscars ceremony will be held on March 15 and broadcast by ABC and Hulu. The date is later than usual to avoid overlap with live sporting events.
Conan O’Brien will reprise his Oscar hosting duties. O’Brien received high marks for his work as the M.C. of the 97th Oscar telecast, which delivered a five-year ratings high for ABC. About 19.7 million people tuned in, up from 19.5 million. As recently as 2019, though, the Oscars attracted 30 million viewers.
As audience numbers have eroded for almost all award shows — the Game Awards, which honors video games, being one notable exception — the academy has scrambled to find ways to keep the Oscars relevant. The Oscars, for instance, will move to YouTube starting in 2029, ending a run on ABC that started in 1976.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.