The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is officially giving casting directors their long-awaited spotlight. For the 98th Academy Awards in 2026, the organization has introduced the Best Achievement in Casting category, marking the first time a new competitive Oscar has been added since Best Animated Feature debuted in 2001. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang previously noted that casting directors play a "vital role" in filmmaking, and this move finally formalizes that recognition on the world's biggest stage.

The inaugural list of nominees highlights a diverse array of ensemble work across major 2025 releases. Leading the pack are the casting teams behind Chloe Zhao's period drama Hamnet and Ryan Coogler’s supernatural thriller Sinners. Also securing historic nominations are Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, James Gray’s The Secret Agent, and the action-drama One Battle After Another. These films represent the very first cohort to compete for a prize that the Casting Society of America (CSA) has spent decades advocating for.

The addition of the category follows years of internal pressure to recognize the professionals responsible for assembling iconic screen duos and discovery-driven ensembles. By including this craft, the Academy now presents 24 competitive categories during its annual telecast. Fans can expect to see the first-ever golden statuette for casting handed out during the 2026 ceremony, officially cementing the casting director's place in the cinematic pantheon alongside directors, editors, and cinematographers.