The 2026 Oscars Could Break a Wild Number of Records — Here Are the 10 That Matter Most
With Sinners leading the night, nominees like Ryan Coogler, Emma Stone, and Wagner Moura could all make Academy Awards history.
The 2026 Oscars already had one big headline locked in before a single winner was announced: Sinners became the most-nominated film in Academy Awards history with 16 nominations. The 98th Academy Awards will air on Sunday, March 15, and if the night goes a certain way, it could turn into one of the most history-making ceremonies the Oscars have ever had.
Ahead of the ceremony, VegasInsider pulled together more than 50 possible records that could be broken this year. Not all of them are equally interesting, if I’m being honest, but a handful really do stand out — especially the ones tied to Best Picture, Best Director, and the acting awards.
Sinners could set an even bigger Oscar record
Already having the most nominations ever would be enough for one film, but Sinners could still go further. According to VegasInsider, it now has a shot at breaking the record for the most Oscars won in a single night. That mark is currently 11, shared by Ben-Hur, Titanic, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. One Battle After Another, which picked up 13 nominations, could also threaten that record.
Ryan Coogler could become the first Black winner of Best Director
This is one of the biggest history-making possibilities on the board. VegasInsider notes that if Ryan Coogler wins Best Director for Sinners, he would become the first Black director ever to win the category. Considering how much conversation Sinners has already sparked this awards season, that would be a major Oscars milestone.
Chloé Zhao could become the first woman to win Best Director twice
Chloé Zhao already made history when she won Best Director for Nomadland in 2021. If she wins again this year for Hamnet, VegasInsider says she would become the first woman ever to win the category twice. That is honestly kind of wild when you think about how long the Oscars have been around.
Emma Stone could move into very rare company
Emma Stone is nominated for Best Actress for Bugonia, and if she wins, she would become only the third actress ever to win that category three times, joining Katharine Hepburn and Frances McDormand.
Sean Penn could win a third acting Oscar
Sean Penn is up for Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, and a win would make him just the fourth male actor ever to win three acting Oscars, according to VegasInsider. That would put him in a very small club with Daniel Day-Lewis, Jack Nicholson, and Walter Brennan.
Wagner Moura could become the first Brazilian actor to win an Oscar
Wagner Moura is nominated for The Secret Agent, and VegasInsider says a win in Best Actor would make him the first Brazilian to win in any acting category. That alone gives his nomination some extra weight going into Sunday night.
Sentimental Value could make history for international cinema
The Oscars have gotten better about embracing non-English-language films in recent years, but there is still plenty of room for firsts. VegasInsider says Sentimental Value could break the record for the most Oscar wins in one night by a non-English-language film, while either Sentimental Value or The Secret Agent could also add to the international history-making already in play this year.
Stellan Skarsgård could break new ground, too
If Stellan Skarsgård wins Best Supporting Actor for Sentimental Value, VegasInsider says he would become the first Swedish male actor to win an Oscar for acting and the first Nordic male actor to do so. It is one of those records that feels oddly overdue.
Diane Warren could finally end one of the Oscars’ most famous losing streaks
Diane Warren is nominated again in Best Original Song, this time for “Dear Me,” giving her a staggering 17th nomination. If she loses again, she becomes the sole record-holder for the most Oscar nominations without a competitive win. If she wins, she finally puts that stat to bed. Either way, it is one of the stranger ongoing Oscars storylines.
The music categories could make history, too
There is also a chance for a different kind of first in Original Song. VegasInsider says “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters could become the first K-pop song ever to win an Oscar, which would be a pretty huge pop-culture moment on its own. The Academy has already leaned into that momentum by confirming the song will be part of this year’s performance lineup.
What makes this year’s Oscars interesting is not just that there are a lot of possible records on paper. It is that several of the biggest ones are tied to films and names people are actually paying attention to, especially Sinners. That does not always happen. Sometimes these “history could be made” stories are technically true but not especially compelling. This year, there is a real chance the ceremony could leave behind a few headlines people will remember.
For more movie-night rabbit holes, you can also take a look at the films that data says are the greatest of all time — and the dress color that has apparently brought the most Oscar luck over the years.
