The Oscars unfold like characters in a movie evolving into unique chapters of their own with a nod to history and inclusivity in cinema’s grand narrative. Hollywood's glamorous past whispers through the golden statuettes while its radical future beckons with glimmering dreams under the spotlights. As the 98th Academy Awards knock on the doors, new light shines on the pillars of movie-making behind the scenes.

Will the Oscars finally honor the long overlooked with a new category awards? 

For the first time in more than 20 years, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has added a new competitive category at the Oscars 2026. The Academy Award for Achievement in Casting will debut at the 98th Academy Awards, recognizing casting directors for their essential yet often unseen work in film. Determined by the Casting Directors Branch of the Academy, established in 2013 with about 160 members, this new category will finally shed light on the talents of Casting directors without whom characters might not get their on-screen justice.

The inaugural Oscar category marks the first addition since Best Animated Feature was introduced in 2001, bringing the total competitive categories to 24. It was previously rejected by the Academy in 1999. Nominees for Achievement in Casting include Nina Gold for Hamnet, Jennifer Venditti for Marty Supreme, Cassandra Kulukundis for One Battle After Another, Gabriel Domingues for The Secret Agent, and Francine Maisler for Sinners, whose behind-the-scenes work rewired narrative cinema in 2026.

"Casting directors play an essential role in filmmaking, and as the Academy evolves, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines that we recognize and celebrate. We congratulate our Casting Directors Branch members on this exciting milestone and for their commitment and diligence throughout this process," said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang in an official press release.

Essentially, the new category will honor the integral role that casting directors play in selecting the cast who bring stories to life. It will spotlight previously faceless professionals who have traditionally labored behind the scenes in pre-production and sometimes even during the filmmaking process to find gems that would go on to shine on screen. As the event of Hollywood's biggest night nears, with yet another category to vie for, the friction between competing movies churns more excitement than usual.

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The wait for the Oscars 2026 is almost over and streaming the entire ceremony has never been easier.

Before heading to a new platform in the near future, the 2026 Oscars will be available for live viewing in the United States on ABC and Hulu. International audiences can check local listings, for example, ITV1 and ITVX will carry the ceremony and related coverage in the UK, 7Plus for Australia, and Crave for Canada.

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is taking place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The main event, which celebrates and honors the best cinema, will commence at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT and also feature red carpet pre-show activities 30 minutes ahead of the main ceremony. Expect witty humor from veteran host Conan O’Brien as the Oscars celebrate traditions while remaining open to expanding categories to recognize talent.

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