Display Rant‘s Oscars 2026 protection continues with a have a look at Greatest Supporting Actor, which could simply be one of many extra aggressive classes on the 98th Academy Awards. After Kieran Culkin gained for A Actual Ache final 12 months, it is my honor as soon as once more to supply perception to this race all through the rest of award season.
It is price noting that the Greatest Supporting Actor class has seen a notable development lately, with the final six winners being first-time winners. Mahershala Ali’s win for Inexperienced Guide prevents the streak from going again even additional. That is an intriguing tidbit to bear in mind as we navigate the 2026 season.
There are a selection of potential first-time Oscar winners contending on this class. Hollywood veterans like Adam Sandler, Delroy Lindo, Stellan Skarsgård, and William H. Macy are on the lookout for a long-awaited victory. However some established Academy Award-winning actors are additionally within the combine.
Voters will finally need to determine whether or not to award individuals who have already got acquired some recognition or to shine the highlight on rising stars and people whose wins are overdue. That is how I see Greatest Supporting Actor proper now, however hold checking again, as I shall be updating this because the Oscars season continues to unfold.
Commentary and predictions up to date on November 28
The Greatest Supporting Actor Nomination Frontrunners
There’s a variety of time left in award season, however a number of names have already grow to be firmly entrenched on this race. Competition premieres, reward from critics, and extra all assist form my present predictions for the Oscars 2026 Greatest Supporting Actor nominees.
|
Rank |
Actor |
Film |
|---|---|---|
|
1) |
Stellan Skarsgård |
Sentimental Worth |
|
2) |
Sean Penn |
One Battle After One other |
|
3) |
Paul Mescal |
Hamnet |
|
4) |
Jacob Elordi |
Frankenstein |
|
5) |
Adam Sandler |
Jay Kelly |
This stays a good class as Stellan Skarsgård and Sean Penn are finest positioned to get nominations. The discharge of Sentimental Worth has introduced extra consideration to Skarsgård’s efficiency, which might be the movie’s crowning achievement from an Oscars perspective. His marketing campaign is presently aided by nominations on the Gotham Awards and Astra Movie Awards.
Whereas Skarsgård is in search of his first Oscar nomination, Penn is on the lookout for his sixth. He bought an Astra nomination after lacking out on the Gothams (along with his co-star Benicio del Toro getting a nod as a substitute). It would be an actual shock if his memorable villainous efficiency in One Battle After One other was snubbed by Academy voters.
I proceed to have religion that Paul Mescal will get in for Hamnet, with the previous nominee for Aftersun holding an opportunity of pulling off an upset win relying on how Chloé Zhao’s movie connects with voters total. He stays firmly within the combine after his Astra nomination.
A change in my predictions has include Jacob Elordi transferring up one spot to fourth. Frankenstein continues to actually join with viewers and is rising as a much bigger contender throughout the board. If Guillermo del Toro’s film retains this momentum up, Elordi ought to get his first Oscar nomination, constructing on his Gotham and Astra nominations.
The rise of the Frankenstein star bumps Adam Sandler down a spot. He is probably not misplaced a lot floor within the race, as he additionally picked up Gotham and Astra recognition, however he stays at a slight drawback with Jay Kelly not but hitting Netflix. As soon as it does and extra individuals get to see his work, the Sandman’s first Oscar nomination might lastly begin to solidify.
Actors Nonetheless In The Combine
There’s a sturdy group of different actors hoping to interrupt into the Greatest Supporting Actor race because the season unfolds. However, it is also grow to be clear that a number of hopeful contenders have fallen out of the race.
That group consists of Andrew Garfield (After the Hunt), Diego Luna (Kiss of the Spider Girl), Idris Elba (A Home of Dynamite), and James Belushi (Track Sung Blue) are too large longshots at this stage. Jonathan Bailey and Ethan Slater’s probabilities look a lot smaller after Depraved: For Good‘s launch, though the previous has barely higher odds.
Regardless of the Astra nominations for Keanu Reeves (Good Fortune) and David Jonsson (The Lengthy Stroll), neither feels firmly within the combine for Oscar consideration. That leaves 14 names.
|
Actor |
Film |
|---|---|
|
Alexander Skarsgård |
Pillion |
|
Andrew Scott |
Blue Moon |
|
Benicio del Toro |
One Battle After One other |
|
Billy Crudup |
Jay Kelly |
|
Bradley Cooper |
Is This Factor On? |
|
Delroy Lindo |
Sinners |
|
Jack O’Connell |
Sinners |
|
Jacobi Jupe |
Hamnet |
|
Jeremy Robust |
Springsteen: Ship Me From Nowhere |
|
Jonathan Bailey |
Depraved: For Good |
|
Josh O’Connor |
Wake Up Useless Man: A Knives Out Thriller |
|
Mark Hamill |
The Lifetime of Chuck |
|
Miles Caton |
Sinners |
|
William H. Macy |
Prepare Desires |
The probably title right here to maneuver up and get an Oscar nomination is former Greatest Supporting Actor winner Benicio del Toro, who’s in search of his third nomination. He is inside the highest 5 of many different prediction items, however I am a bit extra hesitant to imagine that One Battle After One other will take up two slots right here with so many different sturdy contenders.
For instance, Sinners has three doable choices with Delroy Lindo, Miles Caton, and Jack O’Connell. Of them, Lindo and Caton really feel extra prone to play spoiler and get into the ultimate group of nominees. The previous is a veteran who continues to be in search of his first nomination, whereas Caton is the breakout performer and tied to the movie’s Greatest Authentic Track hopes.
The hopes for Bradley Cooper, Billy Crudup, William H. Macy, Jacobi Jupe, Jeremy Robust, and Mark Hamill have taken a success, after lacking out at Gotham and Astra, regardless of their films being out. Andrew Scott and Alexander Skarsgård’s momentum from Gotham was harm by Astra misses, whereas Josh O’Connor will get a stable bump along with his Astrid nomination.
Predicted Greatest Supporting Actor Winner
Taking a look at the place issues stand now, I am left with the impression that Skarsgård is within the lead place for the win. He is bought what sounds just like the showiest position among the many Sentimental Worth forged, as he performs an estranged father who has misplaced the popularity of his filmmaking profession, drinks incessantly, and is coping with heartbreak.
The profession narrative of Skarsgård’s candidacy must also assist. He is a broadly revered and celebrated actor with a long time of expertise. Many might know him from his franchise roles within the MCU, Dune, and Star Wars with Andor. He is showcased his skills all through the years, however has few awards to indicate for it.
Sentimental Worth is an opportunity to alter that. His efficiency alone feels like it’s worthy of successful an Oscar, and early indicators recommend he has the assist to take action. However, the angle of lastly honoring a reliably terrific performer like him may enhance him to first place, as may the movie’s total standing.
Sentimental Worth shall be a significant contender throughout the board. However its path to successful is a bit murkier. This might make Skarsgård much more pivotal. Voters might have to find out if he’s the factor of the movie most deserving to win. For now, plainly they’ll and make him the Greatest Supporting Actor winner on the Oscars 2026.
ScreenRant‘s further Oscars predictions:
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- Location
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Los Angeles, CA
- Dates
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March 15, 2026
- Web site
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https://www.oscars.org/