The nominees for the 98th Academy Awards have been announced, headlined by a historic haul for the blockbuster hit “Sinners” from director Ryan Coogler, which garnered a record 16 nods ahead of the March ceremony.
The supernatural horror film, which wowed audiences with its Southern themes and piercing historical oeuvre, was nominated in nearly all of the major categories—including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay for Coogler—marking a watershed moment for Black filmmaking.
“I was very impressed by everything that my collaborators were doing every day, so I’m so happy that everybody got recognized by their peers,” the Catholic-educated Coogler told Variety this week, deflecting much of the praise.
“Obviously, I’m biased. I think these folks I work with are some of the best in the world. I feel really fortunate. Because it doesn’t always go that way.”
Ryan Coogler says he feels "really fortunate" after "Sinners" earns history-making 16 #Oscar nominations:
— Variety (@Variety) January 22, 2026
"I was very impressed by everything that my collaborators were doing every day, so I’m so happy that everybody got recognized by their peers. Obviously, I’m biased. I think… pic.twitter.com/vozfZWIcVv
Among his “Sinners” collaborators also nominated for Oscars this year are a slew of Black artists, including first-timers Michael B. Jordan (Best Actor), Delroy Lindo (Best Supporting Actor), Wunmi Mosaku (Best Supporting Actress), Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Best Cinematography), and Shunika Terry (Best Makeup and Hairstyling). Coogler’s wife, Zinzi Coogler, co-produced the film and was nominated alongside him for Best Picture.
Raphael Saadiq received his second nomination for Best Original Song for “I Lied to You” (featuring vocalist Miles Caton), and Ruth E. Carter received her fifth nomination for Best Costume Design, making her the most nominated Black woman in Oscars history.
Durald Arkapaw—an Afro-Filipina with paternal roots in the Black Creole community of New Orleans, where much of “Sinners” was shot—is the first non-White female nominee at the Oscars for cinematography.
“Honored to receive this nomination and recognition,” the Loyola Marymount University grad wrote Thursday on social media.
“So so happy for my entire team and everyone who supported the film. Means so much to me and my wonderful crew. My heart is full.”
Other Black nominees this year include Teyana Taylor for Best Actress in the Paul Thomas Anderson thriller “One Battle After Another,” and director Christalyn Hampton for Best Documentary Short Film with her reproductive rights effort “The Devil Is Busy.” Alisa Payne was nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film for her work on “The Perfect Neighbor,” as was Nikon Kwantu. The Dominican-American engineer Juan Peralta was nominated for Best Sound for his work on “F1.”
In total, the 2026 Oscars boasts of 14 Black nominees, and “Sinners” tied the record (10) for the most Black nominees from a single film.
In the non-competitive Governors Awards, presented in November in Los Angeles, the legendary choreographer and actress Debbie Allen, as well as production designer Wynn Thomas were presented with Academy Honorary Awards for their lasting impacts on the world of film.
This year’s Oscars ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 15, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with host Conan O’Brien. A live telecast will be aired on ABC, with livestreaming available on Hulu.
Notably, this year’s winners will be the first chosen under a new system in which all voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will be required to watch every nominated film in each category before the final round of voting, which will begin in late February and conclude in early March.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
