Best pictureWill win: SinnersShould win: The Secret AgentShoulda been a contender: The MastermindBest directorWill win: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After AnotherShould win: Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After AnotherShoulda been a contender: Kleber Mendonça Filho for The Secret AgentPrime contender … Sinners. Photograph: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc./PABest actorWill win: Michael B Jordan for SinnersShould win: Timothée Chalamet for Marty SupremeShoulda been a contender: Josh O’Connor for The MastermindBest actressWill win: Jessie Buckley for HamnetShould win: Jessie Buckley for HamnetShoulda been a contender: Jennifer Lawrence for Die My LovePraying for success … Jessie Buckley in Hamnet. Photograph: 2025 Focus Features LLC./PABest supporting actorWill win: Delroy Lindo for SinnersShould win: Delroy Lindo for SinnersShoulda been a contender: Russell Crowe for NurembergBest supporting actressWill win: Wunmi Mosaku for SinnersShould win: Teyana Taylor for One Battle After AnotherShoulda been a contender: Gwyneth Paltrow for Marty SupremeListening out for a win …Zootopia 2. Photograph: DIsney/APBest animated featureWill win: Zootopia 2Should win: Little AmélieShoulda been a contender: FixedBest adapted screenplayWill win: One Battle After AnotherShould win: One Battle After AnotherShoulda been a contender: Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs TonightDeserves to be celebrated … It Was Just an Accident. Photograph: APBest original screenplayWill win: SinnersShould win: It Was Just an AccidentShoulda been a contender: Black BagBest documentaryWill win: Mr Nobody Against PutinShould win: Mr Nobody Against PutinShoulda been a contender: Ocean With David AttenboroughHolding on to hope … Stellan Skarsgård and Elle Fanning in Sentimental Value. Photograph: Landmark Media/AlamyBest international feature filmWill win: Sentimental ValueShould win: The Secret AgentShoulda been a contender: The Ice TowerBest production designWill win: HamnetShould win: HamnetShoulda been a contender: BugoniaWaiting for news … The Secret Agent. Photograph: Victor Juca/APBest cinematographyWill win: Train DreamsShould win: Train DreamsShoulda been a contender: The Secret AgentBest makeup and hairWill win: FrankensteinShould win: FrankensteinShoulda been a contender: Blue MoonA monstrous oversight? … Oscar Isaac in Frankenstein. Photograph: Ken Woroner/NetflixBest costume designWill win: SinnersShould win: SinnersShoulda been a contender: The Phoenician SchemeBest editingWill win: Sentimental ValueShould win: Sentimental ValueShoulda been a contender: Die My Love
Peter Bradshaw’s Oscars 2026 predictions: who will win, who should win, who should’ve been in the running?
Will Sinners and One Battle After Another sweep the board as expected, or are there surprises on the way? Our critic shares his predictions for the big-screen triumphs and disasters














