LOS ANGELES — The upcoming Oscars are set to be a landmark event for several reasons, most notably the introduction of a new award category—a development that hasn’t occurred in over two decades.

This year, Hollywood’s elite will gather to not only honor cinematic excellence but to witness an Oscar ceremony that is as much about making history as it is about celebrating it.

Even before the coveted statuettes are distributed, history has already been made.

Clayton Davis, Chief Awards Editor for Variety, pointed out the remarkable achievements of the film “Sinners,” which has secured a record-breaking 16 nominations. “Sinners” has surpassed films like “Titanic,” “All About Eve,” and “La La Land,” which each garnered 14 nominations. This accomplishment is particularly significant as it also marks the highest number of Black nominees from a single film in Oscar history.

In the directing category, a potential historic moment looms as well. Should Ryan Coogler take home the Oscar for Best Director, he would become the first Black filmmaker to achieve this honor.

Additionally, this year’s ceremony introduces the Best Achievement in Casting category, the first new addition since 2001. This category aims to acknowledge the crucial role of casting directors in bringing beloved stars to the screen.

“We actually don’t know how it’s going to be voted on,” Davis said. “You vote for ‘One Battle After Another,’ not because of Leo and Sean, but because they discovered Chase Infiniti. You vote for ‘Sinners,’ not because of Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo, it’s because they discovered Miles Caton. I think right now, the favorite is ‘Sinners.’”

So who else could deliver something that has never happened before?

“Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the cinematographer, first woman of color, nominated there,” Davis said. “Ruth E. Carter, the costume designer, two-time Academy Award winner, by the way, the only Black woman in history to have more than one Oscar is now the most nominated Black woman in history.”

And then there’s a first that has never happened in the Academy’s 98-year history.

If Teyana Taylor or Wunmi Mosaku wins Best Supporting Actress, Black women will have won that category three years in a row for the very first time.

“Obviously, Da’Vine Joy Randolph won two years ago for “The Holdovers,” and Afro-Latina, Zoe Saldaña won last year for “Emilia Perez,” this would be a huge monument moment,” Davis said. “In fact, this would be the first time three Black women have won in a row at any of the major award ceremonies, Tonys, Oscars, and Emmys.”

Meanwhile, Emma Stone, a Best Actress nominee for “Bugonia,” has now become the youngest woman ever to earn seven Oscar nominations at just 37 years old.

Meryl Street was the previous record holder with seven nominations by age 38.

Then there’s the Best Picture race itself – there are two clear front-runners from the same studio that are going head to head.

The last time that happened was in 2017.

“Searchlight Pictures was steering both Guillermo del Toro’s ‘The Shape of Water’ and Mark McDonough’s ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,’” Davis said. “This also happened back in the ’70s when Paramount had both ‘Chinatown’ and ‘The Godfather II.’”

So when Conan O’Brien takes the stage on March 15, the question isn’t just who wins, but who will make history while they’re at it.

March 15 is Oscar Sunday! Watch the 2026 Oscars live on ABC and Hulu.

Live red carpet coverage starts at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars.”Catch all the action on the red carpet live on ABC, or stream on Hulu and OnTheRedCarpet.com.The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. and will be followed by “The Bachelorette: Before the First Rose.”