Seven Actors Who Could Finally Earn Their First Oscar Nominations in 2026

The 2025-2026 awards season is just starting, but already we have a slew of promising contenders hoping to make their mark and eventually earn that coveted Oscar nomination come January. Every year, many worthy performances find themselves snubbed by the Academy — it's pretty much inevitable, considering each category only has five slots. Still, that means many worthwhile actors have gone their entire careers without earning Oscar recognition.

2026 could be the year that changes for seven great and worthwhile performers. Indeed, several actors have the best shots of their careers so far to earn their first Oscar nomination, and I'm dying to see it happen. Some are veterans with decades of experience who are finally on the awards season radar, while others are younger talents who have nonetheless proven their versatility countless times before. 2026 could be the year these actors earn their first Oscar nod, and I can't wait to see it happen.

Michael B. Jordan – 'Sinners' (2025)

Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler have one of the most fruitful actor-director relationships in the business. The two have now collaborated in five movies, each better than the one before. Their latest effort, the vampire horror Sinners, might just be their crowning achievement, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon and already positioning itself as a favorite for the upcoming 2025-2026 awards season.

Horror performances have a tough time at the Oscars, with many worthwhile actors egregiously snubbed by the Academy. The odds might not seem in Jordan's favor, but then again, Sinners was such a phenomenon that he might seem undeniable. The actor has been turning in quality work for over a decade now, and he's in the perfect position to earn his first Oscar nomination. His dual performance as twins Smoke and Stack is also showy enough to attract attention, and his work during the film's blood-soaked finale should seal the deal. Jordan could and should earn Oscar love for Sinners, and so should Coogler.

Rebecca Ferguson – 'A House of Dynamite' (2025)

Rebecca Ferguson in A House of Dynamite.

Since her explosive breakthrough in 2015's Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Rebecca Ferguson has been a consistent and fascinating presence on the big screen. The actress has the unique ability to imbue each of her characters with a near-overwhelming screen presence that makes her simply irresistible. This year, she turns in one of her strongest turns in Katherine Bigelow's political thriller A House of Dynamite as a communication point with the military brass dealing with an upcoming nuclear missile.

Ferguson has been delivering award-worthy work for years now, but A House of Dynamite might be her best shot so far to actually secure a nod. The tense thriller comes from one of the most respected filmmakers working today, a previous Oscar winner at that, and is probably Netflix's best bet at multiple nominations at the 2026 Oscars. As the strongest acting representative in the ensemble, Ferguson should be top-of-mind for anyone watching this movie in the upcoming months. With a strong campaign behind her, Ferguson could actually go all the way, especially because there doesn't seem to be a frontrunner in the Supporting Actress category thus far.

Jennifer Lopez – 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' (2025)

Jennifer Lopez singing fiercely at the camera in Kiss of the Spider-Woman

There are stars, and then there are stars, and then there is Jennifer Lopez. Since her breakthrough with the 1997 biopic Selena, the multi-hyphenate global icon has starred in many movies, mostly romantic comedies. This year, she is back in full force with the titular role in the remake of Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Bill Condon and co-starring Diego Luna and newcomer Tonatiuh.

The role of The Spider Woman is iconic in and of itself, earning Broadway icon Chita Rivera a Tony Award for the show's original production. Lopez is considered overdue by many, especially after she was shockingly snubbed in 2020 for her outstanding supporting work in the crime drama Hustlers. Still, Kiss of the Spider Woman has only received solid reviews, which could work against her. However, Lopez could receive the nomination on her name alone, even if she is the film's sole representative. She also has the perfect narrative to push throughout awards season, and if anyone can make a meal out of a well-constructed campaign, it's la Lopez.

Rose Byrne – 'If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You' (2025)

Rose Byrne as Lina in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, premiered at Sundance 2025

And speaking of underappreciated actors, we must talk about Rose Byrne. Since her breakthrough in the mid-2000s, Byrne has been one of the most reliable performers around. She can play the haughty antagonist in Bridesmaids or Spy, the supportive wife in Neighbors or Platonic, or a terrified mother in Insidious, and excel with ease. This year, Byrne delivers what is arguably her strongest work in the psychological drama If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You, as a mother dealing with her life unraveling.

Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, describing her as "brilliantly unhinged" and qualifying her work as a true tour de force. Byrne already won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival, meaning her name is already top-of-mind when thinking of the upcoming Best Actress race. Sure, competition is stiff, but it always is in Best Actress. Moreover, Byrne is well-known and respected in the industry, a reliable player who has built a successful career based on showing up and doing quality work. A Best Actress Oscar nod would be the perfect way to recognize her outstanding work over the past two decades.

Teyana Taylor – 'One Battle After Another' (2025)

Teyana Taylor in One Battle After Another

Teyana Taylor delivered one of the finest pieces of acting of 2023 with her leading work in the drama A Thousand and One. Sadly, she was snubbed by most major award shows, but she seems to be back in full strength this year with Paul Thomas Anderson's action thriller One Battle After Another. The actress plays Perfidia Beverly Hills, the wife of Leonardo DiCaprio's character and the leader of a militant organization.

One Battle After Another received rave reviews, with many going so far as considering it the frontrunner to win Best Picture. The politically charged thriller benefits from Anderson's status as a generational talent who is long overdue for Oscar love (he has eleven nominations but no wins!). Taylor herself has a lot of goodwill after the A Thousand and One snub, meaning 2026 might be the year the Oscar gods rally behind her. Furthermore, with no clear frontrunner in the Supporting Actress category, Taylor could come in and snatch the win, especially if One Battle After Another is indeed the frontrunner many believe it to be.

Bill Skarsgård – 'Dead Man's Wire' (2025)

Few young actors are as exciting or consistent as Bill Skarsgård. The son of iconic character actor Stellan Skarsgård, Bill has been acting for over two decades, earning a place in the industry as an actor of remarkable versatility. This year, he delivers one of his showiest performances in Gus Van Sant's historical crime film Dead Man's Wire, playing Tony Kiritsis, who kidnapped his bank mortgage broker and demanded ransom money and an apology in the 1970s.

Skarsgård generated some Oscar buzz last year with his work in Robert Eggers' Nosferatu, but nothing came out of it. A nomination would be huge for his career and much deserved; Skarsgård is a fascinating and magnetic performer, whose physicality alone puts many other actors to shame. Reviews have been incredibly positive for his work in Dead Man's Wire, describing it as the highlight of the movie and one of his best performances to date. New distributor Row K Entertainment has the North American rights to Dead Man's Wire, but no release date has been set. If the film does indeed premiere this year, then Skarsgård's name should be in the Best Actor conversation, hopefully earning him his first nod.

Stellan Skarsgård – 'Sentimental Value' (2025)

DO NOT USE

And going from one Skarsgård to another, we have the last entry on this list: the iconic and long-overdue Stellan Skarsgård, who is earning significant Oscar buzz for his supporting turn in Joachim Trier's dramedy Sentimental Value. The actor stars as Gustav Borg, a once-famous director forced to confront his broken relationship with his two daughters as he prepares to film a biographical movie about his mother that he's convinced will be his ticket back to the top.

Skarsgård is one of the most reliable and acclaimed actors of his generation. Whether playing villains in Dune, charming love interests in Mamma Mia!, or tragic rebels in Andor, Skarsgård is a consummate pro respected by the industry. Moreover, he is doing career-best work in Sentimental Value, guided by Trier's deft hand in an emotionally potent story about artistry and the sacrifices made in the name of success. Out of all the entries on this list, Skarsgård is the only one who is almost guaranteed to earn a nomination — in fact, many consider him the (very) early frontrunner in the Supporting Actor category, and seeing him win would indeed be an unforgettable moment.

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

My list of must-try jean trends for 2026 is growing; it currently includes all the silhouettes one denim expert revealed to me as the must-watch of the year (save for baggy jeans, because I’ve been wearing those for years). That said, one style that didn’t land on said aforementioned list, but is clearly due for big, big things this year, is flare jeans. With a growing list of celebrity fans that includes Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, Cindy Crawford, Kendrick Lamar (you know that moment), and, of course, Amal Clooney, there’s no denying the retro denim style that was popular in the early aughts is back—and bigger than ever.

The fact that Clooney wore flared jeans is noteworthy in and of itself. The human rights lawyer is known for her refined dressing approach, regularly opting for billowy trousers, trendy boho blouses, and comfy sweater dresses—all staples that read elegant and timeless. So, when I spotted her earlier this year in the laid-back blues while out to dinner with hubby George Clooney, I knew I had to write about it. Of course, the fact that she wore flare jeans, the style countless celebs have worn the last few weeks, is noteworthy, too, as it further cements the style’s ‘It’ status for 2026.

Pistola Kinsley Flare Jeans

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

Spanx SpanxSculpt ReDefine Flare Jeans

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

Clooney opted for a pair of medium-wash jeans with subtle fading (another Y2K reference, IMO). Her blues had an ultra-high waist—so high, in fact, that they appeared to hit at the ribcage. It’s the complete opposite of the controversial low-rise denim, so it’s a possible sign that the high-high waist is coming back, too. Not to mention, Clooney’s jeans had a slightly oversized fit from the thighs to the ankles, but it’s that flared hem that has all my attention; it’s taking me back to my middle school days when I’d wear my True Religion flares every single day. (No joke.)

Gap High-Rise ‘70s Flare Jeans

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

Mother The Weekender Jeans

Amal Clooney Wore Optical Illusion Jeans Cosigned by Jennifer Lopez—Fall-Ready Styles Start at $44

It’s undeniable that Clooney’s jeans have that nostalgic flair (ahem, flare, wink, wink), but it’s also undeniable that celebs are clamoring to the style because it’s incredibly flattering. The blues basically act like an optical illusion, making legs look super long, especially when paired with a style that has an extra-long hemline and sky-high platforms á la Lopez; the singer is 5-feet-5-inches, but don’t you agree with me that she looks way taller in these jeans? Yeah, that’s thanks to the flares. The flare hem and longer inseams help create the look of legs for days, but add in a high-waisted cut, platform heels, and a crop top, and you’ll fool people into thinking you’re inches taller.

Leg-elongating factor aside, there’s no denying that flares are fun and nostalgia-inducing—and that’s exactly what I need right now. So, shop some more fun, funky flares from Frame, NYDJ, and Mavi below.