Best Actor 2026 Oscar Predictions News

Chalamet Leads a Turbulent, Star-Studded 2026 Best Actor Race

AwardsWatch’s final 2026 Best Actor predictions center Timothée Chalamet as the likely frontrunner, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan close behind. Wagner Moura’s Cannes win and Golden Globes drama actor win add intrigue, but his SAG/BAFTA misses complicate his case. Ethan Hawke, Joel Edgerton, and Jesse Plemons are contending for the remaining spot, each with different precursor paths. The piece also highlights a notable LGBTQ-related historical note if Hawke misses and provides a 20-name nominal lineup with ranking shifts based on precursors and awards bodies.