Oscars 2026: Nominees Luncheon–A Year After California Wildfires, Event Returns to Hilton Hotel
Two hundred and thirty nominees — among them Spielberg, Emma Stone, DiCaprio, Kate Hudson and Timothée Chalamet — packed the Beverly Hilton’s international ballroom on Tuesday afternoon.
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A year after wildfires forced the cancellation of the Academy annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton (later rescheduled as dinner at the Academy Museum), the star-studded event returned to its home on Tuesday.
Among the A-listers were best picture nominee Spielberg (Hamnet), best actor nominee Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), best actor nominee DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), best actress nominee Emma Stone (Bugonia), best actor nominee Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), supporting actor nominee Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein) and best actress nominee Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue).
Only a few high-profile nominees were missing: best actress nominee Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), who is busy filming her next movie, and best supporting actor nominee Sean Penn (One Battle After Another), who avoids awards events.
For some, the luncheon was a familiar experience — perennial best song nominee Diane Warren (Diane Warren: Relentless) was in attendance for the 17th time and ninth year in a row.
But for some veterans, it was their first rodeo — indeed, receiving many congratulations on their first noms were two septuagenarian veterans who are up for best supporting actor: Sinners’ Delroy Lindo, 73, and Sentimental Value’s Stellan Skarsgård, 74. But it might have been most surreal of all for best supporting actress nominee Amy Madigan (Weapons), who was last a nominee — and at the luncheon — 40 years ago!
Academy actors branch governor Marlee Matlin introduced herself to Marty Supreme’s Chalamet. Best actor nominee Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) hung with Telluride Film Festival director Julie Huntsinger.
Many nominees excitedly introduced themselves to Spielberg–best animated feature nominee Ugo Bienvenu (Arco) and Train Dreams’ best adapted screenplay nominees Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar and best cinematography nominee Adolpho Veloso.
She also thanked Academy CEO Bill Kramer, the organization’s staff and board of governors, their Oscars broadcasting partner Disney/ABC, and returning Oscars host Conan O’Brien .
The event closed with each nominee being called to the risers for a “class photo.”
Academy actors branch governors Lou Diamond Phillips had the honr of announcing all of the names. The first called was Lindo, who was greeted with thunderous applause. Most of the people whose names met with loud ovations, were from Sinners, including Jordan, best picture-director-best original screenplay nominee Ryan Coogler, best costume design nominee Ruth E. Carter and best supporting actress nominee Wunmi Mosaku.
