It may only have been a few weeks since Anora was the big winner of the night at the 2025 Academy Awards, but already speculation is growing about who will be in contention next year.
It looks like being a vintage year for films, with new releases from some of the biggest hitters of the movie business including Paul Thomas Anderson, Yorgos Lanthimos, James Cameron, Spike Lee and Guillermo del Toro.
Here are the early favourites for Hollywood’s biggest award in 2026.
9. One Battle After Another
Not much is known about acclaimed American director Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film 'One Battle After Another', other than it's starry cast including Leonardo DiCaprio (pictured), Regina Hall, Sean Penn, Alana Haim, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, and Benicio del Toro. Set to hit screens in September, it's a 14/1 shot for Best Picture. | AFP via Getty Images
10. Bugonia
Having been nominated five times without a win, visionary director Yorgos Lanthimos will be hoping to break his Oscar duck with Bugonia, which is 16/1 for the last award of the night. A science fiction comedy starring Emma Stone (pictured), Jesse Plemons and Alicia Silverstone, it's a remake of a South Korean film called 'Save the Green Planet!' about two conspiracy theorists who kidnap a CEO believing her to be an alien. | Getty Images
11. Pressure
Based on the play of the same name by 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' actor David Haig, 'Pressure' is priced at 16/1 for Best Picture. Directed by Anthony Maras, it stars Andrew Scott (pictured), Brendan Fraser, Damian Lewis and Toby Williams. It tells the story of the Royal Air Force meteorologist whose weather forecast would prove crucial to the D-Day landings in World War 2. | Getty Images