The 98th Academy Awards are approaching, and the hype for this edition is reaching a fever pitch. On March 15, 2026, the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood will once again become the center of the cinematic universe. While every year promises a sparkling spectacle, the 2026 Oscars are set to be historic. From Ryan Coogler’s Sinners shattering records with 16 nominations to the debut of a long-awaited competitive category, this ceremony marks a paradigm shift. For the first time, the expertise of the Casting Director will finally step into the golden spotlight.

Who will this statuette celebrate, and who will win the first one?

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) is an artist-driven organization dedicated to advancing the art and science of movies. Founded in 1927 by 36 figures in the film community, including Louis B. Meyer, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, its mission has evolved into global stewardship of cinema. Today, the organization represents many professional areas within the movie industry and has more than 11 thousands members.

The 98th Academy Awards are the first under the presidency of British producer Lynette Howell Taylor.

The Academy Awards and Their Evolution

The Academy has the Academy Awards as its major event: one night full of statuettes and celebrating a year of cinematic productions. The first ceremony in 1929 featured 12 categories, and by 2026, the number had doubled. The Academy has indeed slowly added new categories over the years, reflecting technological development and changes in storytelling.

In 1936, the Supporting Actor/Actress category was introduced, elevating acting performances.

The Elephant Man has changed the history of cinema and the Academy Awards, too. In 1981, following widespread criticism over the Academy’s failure to recognize the extraordinary makeup work in David Lynch’s movie, the Best Makeup category was created, later expanded to Best Makeup and Hairstyling in 1993.

With new technologies and the development of extraordinary digital techniques, the Best Animated Feature category debuted at the ceremony in 2001 and awarded the first Oscar to Shrek.

On the contrary, since 2020, the two distinct categories, Sound Editing and Sound Mixing, have been merged into a single award, Best Sound.

Best Casting is here. Why was the Category needed?

In 2026 Academy Award for Achievement in Casting will debut. It’s a huge pillar that highlights casting directors’ work and recognizes it alongside the other branches of the industry.

Casting directors play an essential role in filmmaking, and as the Academy evolves, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines that we recognize and celebrate. We congratulate our Casting Directors Branch members on this exciting milestone and for their commitment and diligence throughout this process.

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and former president Janet Yang

The proposal has been brought since the late 1990s, and its path has not been smooth.

Who are the First Nominees for Best Casting

The first five nominees for Best Casting, selected by the Casting Directors Branch, are:

• Hamnet – Nina Gold

The British casting director Gold is known for her cult series, such Game of Thrones and The Crown, Andor, Slow Horses, Baby Reindeer, and distinguished features (Les Misérables, Paddington, The Power of the Dog, Conclave).

• Marty Supreme – Jennifer Venditti

Starting from casting for fashion brands, Venditti is known for her street casting and unconventional choices. She works as casting director in the TV show Euphoria, and the Safdies’ movies Uncut Gems, The Smashing Machine and Marty Supreme.

• One Battle After Another – Cassandra Kulukundis

Kulukindis is a long-standing Paul Thomas Anderson collaborator (Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, The Master, Inherent Vice, Phantom Thread)

• The Secret Agent – Gabriel Domingues

Kleber Mendonça Filho’s movie, with the work of Domingues, set the Brazilian cinema as one of the most vital and internationally recognized in the contemporary landscape.

• Sinners – Francine Maisler

Named the Casting Director of the Year by The Hollywood Reporter in 2021, Maisler’s filmography is huge and outstanding: she works with directors like Iñárritu (The Revenant, 21 Grams, and the upcoming Digger), Aaron Sorokin (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Luca Guadagnino (Bones and All, Challengers), Greta Gerwig (Little Women, and the upcoming Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew) Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Arrival, Dune). The pluri-nominated Ryan Coogler’s Sinners is also the favorite winner.

A few hours from now, the Dolby Theatre will have its answers. For everything that’s at stake tonight, the complete nominations list is here.