The 98th Academy Awards are officially here, and while the red carpet is full of glamour, the history books are being rewritten behind the scenes. From billion-dollar bunnies to record-breaking starlets, this year’s ceremony is one for the ages.
Here are 5 fun facts about the Oscars 2026
1. Zootopia 2 Crushes the Competition
The biggest hit among this year’s nominees isn’t a gritty drama, it’s an animated sequel. Zootopia 2 has taken a staggering $1.86 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of the year. Interestingly, if you’re in Europe, you know it as Zootropolis. This is due to a 2009 trademark by Givskud Zoo in Denmark, which forced Disney to change the name across the EU. Trailing behind in the “money race” is the Avatar threequel Fire & Ash ($1.48bn) and the Best Picture racing hit F1 ($632m).
2. Surpassing Meryl Streep’s Early Records
At just 37, Emma Stone has officially become the youngest woman ever to earn seven Oscar nominations, taking the title from Meryl Streep, who was 38 when she hit that milestone. Stone is nominated this year for her role in Bugonia. Even more impressive? Every single one of her five acting nominations, Birdman, The Favourite, Bugonia, La La Land, and Poor Things, has been for a film that was also nominated for Best Picture.
3. Miriam Margolyes’ Long-Awaited Nod
British legend Miriam Margolyes is finally getting her Oscar moment with the Live Action Short A Friend of Dorothy. Known for her brutal honesty, Margolyes previously shared her “livid” frustration over being snubbed for 1993’s The Age of Innocence. She famously blamed Winona Ryder for “stealing” her Supporting Actress slot by being campaigned in the wrong category. This year, the 84-year-old icon is proving it’s never too late for the Academy to catch up.
4. K-Pop Takes Over Hollywood
The Netflix global phenomenon K-Pop Demon Hunters is the favorite to pull off a rare “Double Gold” win. It’s nominated for both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for the hit track “Golden,” performed by the fictional group Huntr/x. If it wins both, it will join an elite club previously occupied only by Toy Story 3 and Frozen. The song is even set to be performed live at the ceremony with traditional Korean instrumentalists.
5. The Chalamet vs. Brando Legacy
Timothée Chalamet has made history as the youngest male actor since Marlon Brando to score three acting nominations. At age 30, Chalamet’s nod for Marty Supreme puts him in the same league as the On the Waterfront legend. While he missed the chance to be the youngest winner (a record held by Adrien Brody, who won at 29), Chalamet’s “trifecta” of nominations marks him as the definitive leading man of his generation.
