Oscar Nominations 2027 Announced With Historic Firsts Across Multiple Categories

Entertainment | By Olivia Bennett | April 1, 2026

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled its nominations for the 99th Academy Awards, and this year's list is making history on multiple fronts. The announcement, made Tuesday morning from the Academy's headquarters in Beverly Hills, revealed a slate of nominees that reflects Hollywood's evolving landscape, with several groundbreaking firsts that have already sparked celebration across the industry.

Leading the pack with 12 nominations is "The Weight of Water," Denis Villeneuve's sweeping climate drama starring Saoirse Ronan, who earned her fifth acting nomination — the most for any performer under 35 in Academy history. The film, which follows three generations of a coastal Irish family facing rising seas, also earned Villeneuve his second Best Director nomination and is considered the frontrunner for Best Picture.

In a historic first, Korean actress Han So-hee earned a Best Actress nomination for the multilingual thriller "Borderline," marking the first time a Korean performer has been nominated in a lead acting category. The achievement comes just five years after "Parasite" won Best Picture and signals the continued globalization of the Academy's tastes. Meanwhile, "The Gathering Storm," a biopic about Shirley Chisholm starring Viola Davis, earned Davis her fourth nomination, tying her with Meryl Streep for most nominations by a Black actress in history.

The ceremony is scheduled for March 2, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with comedian and actress Quinta Brunson set to host for the first time. Early predictions suggest a tight Best Picture race between "The Weight of Water," animated sensation "Moonwhale" from Pixar, and Christopher Nolan's space epic "Meridian," which earned 10 nominations including Best Picture and Best Director.