Oscars 2026 Greatest Supporting Actress Predictions: Nominees & Winner

Final 12 months, Zoe Saldaña dominated the award season earlier than profitable Greatest Supporting Actress, however the Oscars 2026 could possibly be a really totally different 12 months for the class. There are already some fantastic performances difficult to win on the 98th Academy Awards, and I am thrilled to get to chronicle the race for Display screen Rant as soon as extra.

Traditionally, this class nearly at all times goes to somebody with out an Oscar trophy. There are solely 5 Greatest Supporting Actress Oscar winners in historical past who have been already Academy Award winners: Shelley Winters in 1965 (gained in 1959), Helen Hayes in 1970 (gained Greatest Actress in 1931/1932), Ingrid Bergman in 1974 (gained Greatest Actress in 1944 and 1956), Maggie Smith in 1978 (gained Greatest Actress in 1969), and Diane Wiest in 1994 (gained in 1986).

This development seems prone to proceed in 2026, as many of the contenders for Greatest Supporting Actress have by no means gained an Oscar earlier than, regardless of being on this trade for years, if not many years. A couple of are even earlier nominees who missed out on an opportunity to win.

There’s additionally a very good combination of “new names” for the Academy voters to think about, and a number of other sturdy narratives and campaigns that might shift the standings. This is the present panorama of Greatest Supporting Actress, however hold checking again, as I will likely be updating this because the Oscars season continues to unfold.

Commentary and predictions up to date on November 28

The Greatest Supporting Actress Nomination Frontrunners

The Greatest Supporting Actress race continues to evolve, and the discharge of Depraved: For Good means everybody has lastly been capable of see presumed contender Ariana Grande’s return as Glinda. And whereas the film is probably not as beloved as the primary, Grande’s efficiency is arguably even higher, with the story permitting her to go to better depths as an actress.

It’s no shock that Depraved: For Good‘s launch has cemented Grande’s place as a legit Oscar contender as soon as once more. She’s actually going to get a nomination. After being the presumed runner-up to Zoe Saldaña final 12 months, it can come down as to if the weaker response to Depraved sequel means she will recover from the hump and win all of it now.

The most important competitors for Grande is undoubtedly Teyana Taylor. Her large, highly effective, and memorable flip as Perfidia continues to resonate with individuals, and she or he’s not been forgotten, choosing up Gotham Awards and Astra Movie Awards nominations. With One Battle After One other remaining alive in most Oscar classes, Taylor stands to profit additional.

Elle Fanning stays at three on this replace. Now that the film is out in theaters, there’s extra echoing of what ScreenRant‘s Graeme Guttmann stated in his 10/10 Sentimental Worth overview, stating the actress will get a couple of “showcase moments” as aspiring star Rachel Kemp.

Whereas I beforehand questioned if Fanning would keep in or lose floor to her lesser-known Norwegian co-star, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, I am now of the assumption that they’re going to each get in. Lilleaas slots in at quantity 5 after choosing up Gotham and Astra nominations. So reasonably than One Battle After One other snagging two spots in Greatest Supporting Actress, it could be Sentimental Worth.

Gwyneth Paltrow retains her spot in my predicted high 5 because of the power of Marty Supreme‘s presence in awards season to this point. She’ll have to beat the aforementioned poor historical past of Academy Award winners discovering success on this class to get her second Oscar over twenty years after profitable for Shakespeare in Love.

Actresses Nonetheless In The Combine

By including each Sentimental Worth actresses to the anticipated nominee group, Regina Corridor slides right down to this part. She did snag an Astra nomination to help her marketing campaign, nevertheless it does really feel extra seemingly than ever that she may miss out on an Oscar nomination. It is unlikely all six of One Battle After One other‘s performers are acknowledged, and she or he could possibly be one of many ones to be snubbed.

Fortunately for her, she’s at the least nonetheless within the combine. Jennifer Lopez (Kiss of a Spider Girl), Kirsten Dunst (Roofman), Rebecca Ferguson (A Home of Dynamite), Thomasin McKenzie (The Testomony of Ann Lee), and Zoey Deutch (Nouvelle Obscure) have not secured any notable precursor nominations, whereas the Prepare Goals duo of former Oscar nominees Felicity Jones and Kerry Condon additionally lack help. That leaves us with 11 different performers.

Emily Blunt’s marketing campaign is on life help after lacking out at Gotham and Astra, whereas Laura Dern, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Emily Watson are nonetheless hoping their movie’s large releases elevate their standings. The chances of that occuring really feel low contemplating how well-positioned many different performances are.

Sinners‘ feminine stars Hailee Steinfeld and Wunmi Mosaku may benefit from the movie’s general Oscars pedigree. Steinfeld is the previous Oscar nominee because of True Grit, however Mosaku picked up the Gotham nomination; they each have been nominated at Astra.

Odessa A’zio additionally shouldn’t be missed, as she did get an Astra nomination, regardless of Marty Supreme nonetheless being a month away from hitting theaters. Whereas Paltrow is the one within the predicted nominee group, there’s a world the place favor shifts towards A’zio.

Nina Hoss and Glenn Shut have additionally saved some momentum on their aspect with recognition at Astra. Ought to Prime Video and Netflix hold pushing Hedda and Wake Up Lifeless Man exhausting, both may have an opportunity of breaking into the Oscars race to attempt to pull off a shock win.

The help for Amy Madigan’s Weapons efficiency remains to be going sturdy, too. She lastly bought a notable nomination with Astra, proving that Warner Bros.’s marketing campaign is working. With Madigan additionally a former nominee for 1985’s Twice in a Lifetime, it might be fairly the comeback story if she secures one other nomination 40 years later.

Predicted Greatest Supporting Actress Winner

Ariana Grande stays my decide to win Greatest Supporting Actress on the 2026 Oscars, however my confidence is a bit shaken, admittedly. Depraved: For Good‘s reception has introduced the movie’s total Oscar probabilities into query. And whereas I’ve little doubt Grande will safe a nomination, the extra tepid response holds her again from being the selection.

The rationale I’ve saved her because the winner comes right down to the cumulative work between the 2 Depraved films. Quite than this subsequent nomination being a spot to solely acknowledge her work in Depraved: For Good, her marketing campaign ought to embrace the way it works at the side of the primary movie. The vary she reveals all through each is superb, heartbreaking, and humorous.

She’s additionally secured an Astra nomination, placing her on the board this awards season. Voters won’t overlook about her Glinda, and with so many months nonetheless to return earlier than a winner is topped, there’s a number of time for Grande to solidify her spot on the high of this class.

This will likely be a detailed race to look at because the season develops, although, as who wins between Grande and Taylor at totally different awards reveals may actually decide who wins the class on the Oscars 2026.

ScreenRant‘s extra Oscars predictions:

8/10

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Los Angeles, CA

Dates

March 15, 2026

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