Los Angeles, CA — A total of 317 feature films are eligible for consideration at the 98th Academy Awards®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today. Out of these, 201 films qualify for consideration in the prestigious Best Picture category.
To be eligible in the general entry categories, films must have opened in a commercial cinema in at least one major U.S. market — Los Angeles County, New York City, the Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, or Atlanta — between January 1 and December 31, 2025. Films are required to run for at least seven consecutive days in the same theater and must have a runtime longer than 40 minutes.
Films competing for Best Picture must meet additional requirements. Along with general eligibility, producers were required to submit a confidential Academy Representation and Inclusion Standards Entry (RAISE) form and meet at least two of four inclusion standards. Best Picture contenders must also complete an expanded theatrical release, with a seven-day run in 10 of the top 50 U.S. markets within 45 days of initial release. Eligibility may change for films released late in the year if they fail to complete this requirement by January 22, 2026.
The Academy has already announced shortlists in 12 categories, including Cinematography, Documentary Feature Film, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Score, Original Song, Sound, and Visual Effects.
Nominations voting will take place from January 12 to January 16, 2026. The official nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on January 22, 2026.
A total of 24 categories will be awarded at the ceremony. Each category will have five nominees, except Best Picture, which will include 10 films. Voting is conducted online by eligible Academy members and is independently counted by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The event will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed in more than 200 territories worldwide.