Inside the 2026 Oscar nominees luncheon, where, for a moment, competition was put aside

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Jacob Elordi, the actor from “Frankenstein” – and hard to miss at 6’5” – greeted Teyana Taylor with a hug. Taylor, nominated for an Oscar for her supporting role in “One Battle After Another,” was nearby chatting with Leonardo DiCaprio, who then spoke with Steven Spielberg, the director of his 2002 film, “Catch Me If You Can.” Joachim Trier, director of “Sentimental Value,” was also seen talking with Paul Thomas Anderson, another directing nominee for “One Battle.” Amidst the conversations, veteran songwriter Diane Warren snapped a selfie, clearly still excited to be among so many talented people, even after attending the event seventeen times.

Awards

The 98th Academy Award nominations are out, and ‘Sinners’ received the most nominations with a total of 16. You can find the complete list of nominees for the 2026 Oscars here.

It was amazing to see so many of this year’s Oscar nominees – 203 out of 230, actually – all together at the Beverly Hilton on Tuesday! It felt like a rare, relaxed break from all the campaigning, just a chance for everyone to enjoy each other’s company. Seeing huge stars like Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, and Kate Hudson chatting and toasting with nominees from categories like animation and sound – people who deserve just as much recognition – was really special. And of course, the group photo is always a fun moment – a perfect snapshot of all the talented people celebrated that day.

The Oscars are almost here, on March 15th. A pre-Oscar gathering, a tradition that started in 1982 and returned this year after being cancelled in 2025 due to the Los Angeles wildfires, gave nominees a chance to relax and connect without the usual competitive pressure. But this break won’t last long – voting starts February 26th, and as always, most nominees – around 80% – will not win an award on Oscar night.

The luncheon felt especially thrilling for those attending for the first time. Christalyn Hampton, who co-directed the documentary short “The Devil Is Busy” – a film about a day at an Atlanta abortion clinic – said she was eager to meet Ryan Coogler, the director of “Sinners.” His vampire thriller currently has the most nominations, with a record-breaking 16.

Hampton, a first-time director and former dancer, expressed her excitement about being nominated for an Oscar, noting it’s a historic moment as one of two African American directors recognized this year. Despite the tiring travel between Atlanta and awards events, she said being among such talented filmmakers makes it all worthwhile.

Even at the award shows, it was hard to avoid talking about the uncertainty in the movie industry, and the world in general. While people were eating dinner, many conversations turned to whether Netflix or Paramount would succeed in buying Warner Bros., and what that could mean for the future of film.

As a film lover, I was really struck by what Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said. She recognized that a lot of us in the industry are questioning things right now – with everything going on in the world and the changes happening within Hollywood. She basically said, ‘We all wonder if we should be doing something different, or even something else entirely.’ And while she admitted that’s a personal question, she powerfully reminded everyone that what we are doing is incredibly important, and definitely not easy. It felt like a really validating message, especially given the current climate.

She commended the determination of filmmakers who have overcome challenges like strikes, political instability, and even war. She emphasized that stopping creative work means surrendering, and affirmed that everyone in the room has refused to do so.

Sara Khaki, co-director of the documentary “Cutting Through Rocks” (along with Mohammadreza Eyni), felt the situation particularly strongly. The film tells the story of the first woman elected to a village council in Iran. Since the film received its nomination, Khaki described the past few weeks as a mix of “terrible and wonderful,” due to widespread protests happening in her home country against the Iranian government.

It’s heartbreaking to hear about what’s happening back home – the internet being cut off and not knowing if our family and friends are okay. But being here is a bright spot, so it’s a really complicated mix of feelings right now.

Another Iranian candidate wasn’t present at all. Mehdi Mahmoudian, who was nominated as a co-writer for Jafar Panahi’s film “It Was Just an Accident,” was recently arrested in Iran for supporting a statement that criticized the government’s violent response to protests.

During the Oscars, each nominee was given a card and asked what film inspired them to work in the industry. Chloé Zhao, who previously won an Oscar for “Nomadland” and was nominated again for “Hamnet,” wrote that Hirokazu Kore-eda’s 1998 film “After Life” had a strong impact on her, as its thoughtful exploration of memory and meaning resonated with her own filmmaking style. According to producer Molly Howell, these responses would be incorporated into a special segment during the broadcast.

Like previous years, the luncheon included helpful advice for potential winners on Oscar night. This covered things like walking quickly to the stage, limiting speeches to 45 seconds, and avoiding getting too close to the microphone.

Howell strongly advised nominees against feeling pressured to thank every single person they’ve ever collaborated with. She explained, “You’re bound to leave someone out, and you’ll regret it.”

She advised them to concentrate on the importance of the present moment. “Remember, you are the main attraction,” Howell said. “Your speeches are what matter. This is a show that millions will see, so let’s give them our best.”

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2026-02-11 06:01