Oscars 2026 shortlists by category explained: what drops, when, how many titles, and where to find each official list the moment the Academy publishes it.
The Oscars 2026 shortlists are the first real shake of the season. They signal front-runners, reshape campaigns, and give a clear map of who still has a shot before final nominations.
Here is the essential: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences publishes official shortlists in a set of specific categories each December, then nominations arrive in January. If the 2026 lists are not yet live, this guide shows exactly what to expect and where every category will appear the second the Academy posts.
Oscars 2026 shortlists by category: what to expect
The Academy typically unveils shortlists in 10 areas that rely on branch or committee voting. International Feature Film and Documentary Feature usually run to 15 titles each. The three shorts categories Animated Short Film, Documentary Short Film, and Live Action Short Film also commonly present 15 films per list.
Music categories are shaped by the Music Branch. Recent seasons delivered 15 shortlisted scores in Original Score and 15 songs in Original Song. That volume lets voters spotlight both studio tentpoles and indie discoveries that bubbled up through festivals.
Makeup and Hairstyling has historically shown a tighter field, often 10 films that proceed to a branch presentation before finalists are chosen. Sound follows a similar shortlist pattern with 10 titles shaped by specialists in the Sound Branch. Visual Effects can start wider. The Academy has previously announced a 20 film VFX shortlist before bake off presentations trimmed it to 10 and then the final five.
The mix looks balanced on purpose. The goal is clear access for voters while still maintaining competition. It is definitly not a random cut. Rules define eligibility windows, screen credit, and submission formats for each branch.
Release timeline and sources: when the Academy drops the lists
The Academy publishes its official key dates months in advance on oscars.org. In recent years, shortlists landed in the second half of December, nominations followed in January, and the ceremony took place in March. For reference, the Academy announced shortlists for the 96th Oscars on 21 December 2023 across 10 categories, then unveiled nominations in January 2024.
Expect the same rhythm for 2026. The moment the Academy posts, each category page and newsroom article on oscars.org updates with the full list of titles. Start here for official announcements and PDFs: https://www.oscars.org/news. Category specific pages sit under the Awards Rules and Academy News hubs, which host the lists and any rule clarifications for the cycle.
One practical tip helps: studios and national film bodies often echo the Academy post within minutes. For International Feature Film, national film institutes publish their shortlisted status the same day, while the Academy maintains the definitive list. Cross check the Academy page before amplifying anything on social feeds.
How the Academy builds the shortlists and common pitfalls
Branches vote on their own fields. That means cinematographers decide cinematography, sound professionals shortlist sound, music branch members screen and score eligible scores and songs. Documentary and International Feature mix branch ballots with committees that watch qualifying submissions according to the official rules for the season.
Eligibility matters. Missed screening deadlines, incomplete documentation, or ineligible release patterns can disqualify a film before voting. For music, the Academy reviews authorship and originality. For visual effects, submission reels must present work as it appears in the film. The Shorts categories check running time and qualifying festival or theatrical pathways set by the rules for the year.
Patterns from recent seasons still help. Films that premiered at major fall festivals often show up across multiple shortlists. Sound and Visual Effects favor strong craft showpieces, but voters also respond to clarity of storytelling in the reel or screening materials. International Feature starts with one official submission per country and narrows to a 15 film shortlist before final voting picks the five nominees.
Here is the clean way to stay accurate as 2026 unfolds. Track the Academy’s publicly posted calendar, refresh the newsroom page on shortlist day, and rely on the official PDFs for spelling, titles, and studio credits. That is the source voters and trades cite, and it is the one that will shape the last sprint toward nominations.