Awards season briefly exhaled Tuesday afternoon as the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards gathered at the Beverly Hilton for the annual Oscars luncheon — a rare moment when peers and competitors share tables instead of headlines.
Held inside the Wilshire Ballroom, nominees arrived without entourages or publicists, took randomized seats, and shared tables with the very artists they will compete against on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre.
As per Variety, Emma Stone and Timothée Chalamet took seats at Table 3 near the front of the room. Both the artists arrive with historic distinctions.
Stone becomes the youngest person — and the only woman — to receive acting and Best Picture nominations for the same film twice, this year for Bugonia following Poor Things. While Chalamet now stands as the youngest nominee to compete for Best Actor and Best Picture in the same year for Marty Supreme.
This year’s nominations reflect a strong showing for Warner Bros. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners leads with a record-setting 16 nominations, while Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another follows with 13. As first reported by Variety, applause grew steadily during the traditional roll call of nominees, read by Lou Diamond Phillips, but peaked when Coogler’s name was announced for picture, directing and original screenplay.
Elsewhere in the room, first-time acting nominees including Michael B. Jordan, Wagner Moura, Rose Byrne, Jacob Elordi and Teyana Taylor soaked in the milestone. As Phillips concluded the list with Taylor’s name, she quipped on her way out, “They saved the best for last.”
The afternoon carried a celebratory ease. Kate Hudson returned to the Oscars orbit for the first time in 25 years with a Best Actress nomination for Song Sung Blue. Jessie Buckley celebrated her first lead actress nod for Hamnet and shared a warm embrace with fellow nominee Rose Byrne. Elle Fanning marked her first nomination for Sentimental Value, while director Chloé Zhao moved easily between conversations.
Leonardo DiCaprio arrived with his father and spent time catching up with Scott Stuber and Ethan Hawke. Across the lobby, Anderson and Steven Spielberg greeted each other warmly. Brazilian cinematographer Adolpho Veloso cheered enthusiastically for his country’s nominees, including Wagner Moura.
Josh Safdie drew attention as the only individual nominated for four Oscars this year. As Variety noted, Hawke and Timothée Chalamet later embraced Sony Pictures Classics co-head Michael Barker and told him he helped shape their careers — a moment that clearly moved him.
Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor addressed the room with both warmth and pragmatism, reminding nominees of what awaits on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre. “You have 45 seconds to complete your speech,” she said, urging winners to keep remarks “heartfelt and authentic”. She also advised, “Don’t lean into the microphone,” drawing laughter and attentive nods. She also highlighted casting directors among this year’s honorees, prompting audible support in the room.
Not every nominee could make to the annual luncheon. Ludwig Göransson has returned to London to complete work on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Renate Reinsve, Natalie Portman, Sean Penn and Sam Mendes were also absent.
The luncheon remains one of the final moments of ease before the race intensifies. On March 15, the competition resumes. For now, Hollywood’s Class of 2026 holds the moment, sharing a single distinction: Oscar nominee.
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