As the Oscar nominations approach, the possibility of winning the first Academy Award is beginning to seem real for several Hollywood stars.
While Timothée Chalamet, Jacob Elordi and other actors emerge as strong contenders in different categories, their potential defining Oscar moments appear to be just around the corner.
In an Instagram post, the Academy announced on Monday, January 5, that the Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22.
The latest update highlighted that art knows no boundaries, as 15 films advanced to the next round of voting in the International Feature Film category.
Here’s where they land on the map:
Argentina, NATIVITY SCENE
Brazil, THE SECRET AGENT
France, IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Germany, FALLING SOUND
India, CONTINUED AT HOME
Iraq, THE PRESIDENT’S CAKE
Japan, KOKUHO
Jordan, ALL THAT LEFT OF YOU
Norway, SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Palestine, PALESTINE 36
South Korea, THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION
Spain, SIRÂT
Swiss, LATE SHIFT
Taiwan, LEFT-HANDED GIRL
Tunisia, THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB
As the date for the Oscar nominations announcement was revealed, fans are eager to find out who is receiving nominations in which categories and, of course, speculating about possible snubs.
Fresh off their 2026 Critics Choice Awards, Chalamet and Elordi’s potential Oscar wins have gotten a big boost.
He marty supreme The star has become a favorite for the Best Actor Oscar after winning the category at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on January 4.
The two-time Oscar nominee’s performance as 1950s table tennis champion Marty Mauser in the drama A24 has been highly appreciated by fans and critics alike.
As for Elordi, 28, he won Best Supporting Actor for his role as The Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which has upended awards season predictions.
Her win is considered a strong omen for an Oscar nomination. Notably, the Critics Choice winner in this category has earned an Academy Award nomination every year for the past 30 years.
Additionally, his big win at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on January 4 is being described as a “monstrous” surprise, as he defeated several established favorites including Benicio del Toro (Battle After Battle), Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value) and Sean Penn (Battle After Battle).
Adding to the list, fans are rooting for Ethan Hawke to win an Oscar in 2026 after his “Best Actor failure” in 2018 for First Reformed.
With a career spanning more than 40 years, the four-time Oscar nominee impressed critics with his performance In Blue Moon.
Notably, he received a Career Achievement Award at the Critics Choice Awards on January 4.
Plus, despite facing a high-profile “snub” at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, Michael B. Jordan remains a powerful Oscar contender after his work in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners.
Dwayne Johnson is also experiencing the biggest Oscar buzz of his career for his role as MMA legend Mark Kerr in the A24 drama The Smashing Machine.
While he didn’t win at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on January 4, he remains a top contender for a Best Actor Oscar nomination.
In case you missed it: The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre.
