Two days ago, SW News broke down the early architecture of this awards season in “From Globes to Gold: Mapping the Race to the 98th Oscars,” setting the scene after the Academy’s eligibility slate and the Golden Globes made their first waves in shaping Oscar momentum. Now the story pivots — from buzz and speculation to the official, industry-set starting line for the race’s next phase.
Today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed the names and the moment when Hollywood’s next big bidding war begins: Oscar-nominated actor Danielle Brooks and actor Lewis Pullman will reveal the official nominations for the 98th Academy Awards.
Who’s Hosting — and Why It Matters
Danielle Brooks, fresh off her own awards recognition and firmly in the cultural conversation thanks to both acclaimed film and TV work, brings a fresh but respected presence to the Oscars’ first major broadcast event of the year. Lewis Pullman, equally in stride with a growing slate of critically noticed roles, complements her as co-host of what has become one of awards season’s most-watched mornings.
Their announcement marks the ceremonial start of the official race — the moment fans, critics, and industry voters alike shift from predictions to the nominees themselves.
Mark the Calendar — Awards Season’s Next Big Date
Here are the key dates for film devotees and culture watchers:
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Thursday, January 22, 2026 — 98th Academy Awards Nominations Reveal
— Ceremony begins 5:30 a.m. PST / 8:30 a.m. EST / 1:30 p.m. GMT in a global live stream from the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles. The full slate of 24 categories will be revealed in real time across Oscar.com, Oscars.org, the Academy’s digital platforms (including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook), and via ABC’s Good Morning America plus streaming on ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu. -
Sunday, March 15, 2026 — 98th Academy Awards Ceremony
— Hollywood’s biggest night returns to the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, airing live on ABC and streaming on Hulu, with celebration and suspense in every category.
What Happens on Nomination Morning
The nominations will unfold in two primary segments during the live presentation:
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5:30 a.m. PST: Early rounds will spotlight categories like Actor in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Animated Short Film, Writing (Original and Adapted Screenplay), and more.
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5:41 a.m. PST: The second wave of reveals will introduce Actor and Actress in a Leading Role, Best Picture, Directing, Cinematography, International Feature Film, and technical achievements like Visual Effects, Sound, and Production Design.
Beyond the spectacle, this moment holds significant industry weight: it sets the official narrative arc of the 98th Oscars, transforming early awards buzz into concrete recognition. For films and performances still jockeying for stature, the Jan. 22 announcement will be a decisive moment.
Why This Matters for Cinema Culture
Two days ago, in From Globes to Gold, we traced the structural contours of this year’s Oscar field — the films eligible, the seasons of voting, the Golden Globes’ impact on momentum, and the sheer breadth of contenders across 317 eligible features. Now the race begins in earnest. The nominees that Brooks and Pullman announce will not just define the next seven weeks of publicity and parties — they will cement the cultural record of this year’s cinematic achievements.
Stay tuned to SW News Culture for our live reaction and our complete breakdown of every nomination as soon as the lists are unveiled on January 22.
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