Awards season is already heating up in Hollywood, with Emma Stone, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, and George Clooney emerging as major names in the first wave of Oscars 2026 predictions. The Los Angeles Times has kicked off its annual BuzzMeter, where six veteran film journalists rank the performers and films most likely to dominate awards season — and this year’s early results paint a star-studded picture.
In the Best Actress race, Emma Stone is once again generating strong Oscar buzz for her performance in Bugonia, marking another potential nomination just two years after her win for Poor Things. Julia Roberts is also firmly in the conversation for her role in Leave the World Behind 2, which critics have called one of her most compelling performances in years. The LA Times BuzzMeter panel predicts that both actresses could be key players in the Oscars 2026 race, alongside Amanda Seyfried (The Testament of Ann Lee) and Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good).
Meanwhile, the Best Actor category is shaping up to be a battle between Hollywood heavyweights. Leonardo DiCaprio leads the charge with One Battle After Another, a historical epic directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Tied with him at the top of the BuzzMeter is Jeremy Allen White for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, the much-anticipated Bruce Springsteen biopic that’s already sparking major Oscar buzz after its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. Just behind them are Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), George Clooney (Jay Kelly), and action icons Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine) and Michael B. Jordan (Sinners).
For Best Director, Paul Thomas Anderson once again sits in pole position for One Battle After Another, followed by Kathryn Bigelow (A House of Dynamite) and Ryan Coogler (Sinners), both tied in second place. Chloé Zhao earns another nod for her adaptation of Hamnet, while Jafar Panahi rounds out the list for his politically charged drama It Was Just an Accident.
In the Best Picture race, the Oscars 2026 field is dominated by prestige titles. One Battle After Another holds the top spot, followed by Hamnet, Sinners, A House of Dynamite, and Jay Kelly. Also gaining Oscar buzz are Sentimental Value, Marty Supreme, and Wicked: For Good.
The Los Angeles Times BuzzMeter, now a trusted early indicator of awards-season momentum, will update its predictions three more times before the Oscars 2026 ceremony, which takes place on March 15, 2026. While early lists often evolve as campaigning ramps up, this first round already establishes clear favourites — and a fierce contest among some of Hollywood’s most celebrated names.
For Emma Stone and Julia Roberts, the coming months could mark defining moments in their already glittering careers. Leonardo DiCaprio, a perennial Oscar contender, appears poised for yet another nomination, while George Clooney’s performance in Jay Kelly has critics calling it his strongest dramatic role in over a decade. Together, they form the core of what’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive and star-packed Oscars 2026 races in years.
As the Oscar buzz builds, the message from the BuzzMeter is clear — awards season has officially begun, and Hollywood’s biggest stars are already taking centre stage.
