Finally, the 2026 Oscars have arrived! With voting wrapped up, all eyes turn to Sunday night as we wait to see who takes home the hardware. Best Actress is one of the most illustrious awards handed out at the show, and while it doesn’t appear to be a tight race currently, things can change at a moment’s notice.
Here is a full breakdown of the Best Actress category at the 2026 Oscars, including nominees, odds and a prediction for who will win.
Find our predictions for other major 2026 Oscars categories here!
- Best Picture
- Best Actor
- Best Supporting Actor
- Best Supporting Actress
- Best Director
- Best Original Screenplay
- Best Adapted Screenplay
2026 Oscars Best Actress Nominees
Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)
Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue)
Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value)
Emma Stone (Bugonia)
2026 Oscars Odds, Favorites
- Jessie Buckley (-3500)
- Rose Byrne (+1200)
- Kate Hudson, Emma Stone, Renate Reinsve (+2500)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Who will win Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars?
On paper, this is all but wrapped up. Before we dive into the likely winner, let’s touch on the other four nominees briefly. In most other Oscars fields, Rose Byrne would be a serious candidate to take home this hardware. Her portrayal of a scrambled, unraveling Linda in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is a sharp examination of the deepest insecurities and anxiety that lives within so many of us. Everything about her performance is deeply unsettling, yet equally enthralling. Kate Hudson burst back on the scene with an emotional powerhouse of a performance in Song Sung Blue, arguably her best work to date. All of the hype around Sentimental Value has been directed towards likely Best Supporting Actor winner Stellan SkarsgĂĄrd, but Renate Reinsve is just as stellar operating alongside him. Emma Stone’s stern, no-nonsense performance in Bugonia, while not her best work as of late, was still strong enough to command a nomination.
All of that said, Jessie Buckley stands alone on the mountaintop. Buckley delivered not just the best performance among her fellow nominees, not just definitively the best performance of the year, but one of the best performances I have seen over the last decade. As Agnes in Hamnet, Buckley effectively grounds the larger-than-life persona of William Shakespeare into a mere husband and father. She seamless toes the line between her ethereal, inexplicable connection with nature and the harsh, jarring reality of (virtually single) motherhood in a time when children where ripped away from their parents at far too early ages due to a myriad of illnesses and dangers. Her grief, her joy… every single thought that Agnes had was palpable, and expertly displayed by Buckley. This is a performance that will be remembered for years to come.
Prediction: Jessie Buckley wins Best Actress
Best Actress 2026 Oscars FAQ
Who was nominated for Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars?
Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Emma Stone and Renate Reinsve were nominated for Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars.
Who is the favorite to win Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars?
Jessie Buckley is considered the heavy favorite to win Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars for the role of Agnes in Hamnet.
When are the 2026 Oscars?
The 2026 Oscars will air at 7 p.m ET / 4 p.m. PT on ABC and stream live on Hulu.
