The 98th Academy Awards nominations sparked heartfelt and emotional responses from this year’s most celebrated actors, directors and creatives after the nominations were revealed on January 22, 2026. The nominees reacted with joy, gratitude and reflection as they shared their thoughts on social media and in statements — from first-time nominees like Elle Fanning and Teyana Taylor to seasoned stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Hudson.
The Oscars this year will be held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and aired live on ABC and Hulu.
Elle Fanning: Emotional First Nomination
Elle Fanning shared an ecstatic reaction after receiving her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Sentimental Value. On Instagram, she wrote that she was in “absolute shock” and couldn’t “catch [her] breath,” describing the moment as feeling almost unreal. She celebrated the honour alongside family members who were with her when the announcement came, calling the recognition “an honour.”
Fanning also expressed gratitude for her co-stars and the film’s director, Joachim Trier, noting that Sentimental Value received nine total nominations — a major haul for the film.
Teyana Taylor: “Fairytale Ending”
Teyana Taylor, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her powerful performance in One Battle After Another, called her nod a “fairytale ending” and shared that the recognition has left her emotional and grateful. She said the nomination felt like “a soft, beautiful ‘yes’ from the universe” and thanked director Paul Thomas Anderson along with the cast and crew.
Expressing humility and gratitude, Taylor shared that she felt honoured to be mentioned alongside outstanding women in her category and recognised how much support from others helped her reach this moment.
Leonardo DiCaprio: Collaboration and Meaningful Work
Multiple nominations also brought a thoughtful reaction from Leonardo DiCaprio, who received a nod for Best Lead Actor for One Battle After Another. He reflected on the film as one of the “most meaningful and collaborative experiences” of his life. DiCaprio credited the film’s success to the extraordinary cast and crew and director Paul Thomas Anderson, highlighting the film’s deep relevance to contemporary audiences.
DiCaprio, already a multiple Oscar nominee, expressed honour at being recognised again and emphasised the collective effort behind the project.
Kate Hudson: Gratitude and Joy
For Kate Hudson, nominated for Best Lead Actress for her role in Song Sung Blue, the news was a moment of pure joy. She said her “heart is filled with gratitude and joy” at being nominated, describing it as an “incredible feeling” and an honour to celebrate with the talented women in her category.
This marks Hudson’s first Oscar nomination in 25 years since her breakout role in Almost Famous.
Ryan Coogler and Team: Historic Success for Sinners
Director Ryan Coogler along with Zinzi Coogler and producer Sev Ohanian reacted to an unprecedented achievement: Sinners led the 2026 Oscar field with 16 nominations, making history in the process. The team said they were “extremely grateful” for the recognition and humbled by how the film connected with audiences globally, emphasising that the success was not achieved alone but with the contributions of many artists.
Other Notable Reactions
Jessie Buckley
Nominated for Best Lead Actress for Hamnet, Buckley thanked director Chloé Zhao and co-stars, expressing profound honour and gratitude for being recognised alongside inspiring artists. She credited the film’s creative journey for expanding her artistic horizons.
EJAE and Diane Warren
Singer–songwriter EJAE, nominated for Best Original Song for KPop Demon Hunters, shared that seeing her name on the screen felt “weird and eerie” but deeply proud. Legendary songwriter Diane Warren, earning her 17th nomination in the Best Original Song category, said winning would be “great” but that being recognised by her peers already felt like an achievement.
Rose Byrne
Nominated for Best Actress for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Byrne called the experience “surreal” and said she was “overwhelmed” by the nomination. She emphasised the film’s artistic resonance and universal appeal despite its modest budget.
Why These Reactions Matter
This year’s nominations reflect a diverse group of talent and films — from long-established stars to new voices — recognised across acting, direction, music and technical categories. Several nominees shared that the Academy nods represent not just personal achievement but also team efforts, collaborations and validation for ambitious storytelling.
The strong emotional reactions — from disbelief and joy to gratitude and artistic reflection — underscore how meaningful Oscar recognition remains for creatives at every stage of their careers.
Looking Ahead to the 98th Academy Awards
With record-setting nominations, including Sinners making history with 16 nods, and a wide range of celebrated performances and films in contention, anticipation is building for the award ceremony on March 15, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre.
From heartfelt social media posts to thoughtful statements about creative collaboration, this year’s Oscar nominees have made it clear: being recognised by the Academy is both an emotional milestone and a moment to reflect on the journey that brought them there.
