- New Oscar for Best Casting
- Introduced in 2026 ceremony
- Recognizes casting directors’ talent
Since 2026, the organisers of the Academy Awards have announced the introduction of a new Oscar category for Best Casting.
This will mark the first competitive category introduced at the ceremony since Best Animated Film in 2002.
In recent years, casting directors have sought recognition equivalent to that accorded to other film disciplines, such as hair and makeup, sound, and costume.
Academy officials stated in a statement that casting directors “play a crucial role in the filmmaking process.”
Janet Yang, President and CEO of the Academy, and Bill Kramer further stated, “As the Academy continues to evolve, we are honoured to include casting among the disciplines we honour and recognise.
Members of the casting directors branch are commended for their dedication and hard work in reaching this momentous milestone.
The introduction of the category is postponed until the 2026 ceremony due to the extensive planning involved in awards campaigns.
Despite recent efforts by the Academy to shorten the Oscars ceremony to retain audience interest, the event often exceeds its three-hour limit.
“Most remarkable talent”
Currently, the Oscars comprise a total of 23 awards; however, the main awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and acting categories, significantly captivate the public’s attention.
The new casting category may not be included in the telecast until closer to the event.
Among the first to be involved in new film projects, casting directors significantly influence the development of major Hollywood films.
They are responsible for selecting both the A-list actors for lead roles and the supporting cast.
Additionally, stunt performers have unsuccessfully sought their own category at the Academy Awards.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, a major precursor event, introduced a stunt category in 2007, won by the team behind Top Gun: Maverick the previous year.
Casting Category Wins Favor
Casting category announcement received more good response than 2018 Academy Awards proposed popular film category.
The suggested award was a populist initiative aimed at recognising commercially successful films. These were unlikely to receive nominations in traditional categories, including superhero franchises and summer blockbusters.
However, the proposal met with criticism, with many prominent industry figures arguing that such a category would diminish the Oscars’ prestigious reputation and integrity.
Years later, the Academy trialled a “fan favourite” award, decided by a public vote and not an official Oscars category. It was won by Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead but was not repeated the following year.
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This year’s Oscars ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on March 10, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
Following the announcement of the casting award, the three heads of the Academy’s casting directors branch—Richard Hicks, Kim Taylor-Coleman, and Debra Zane—expressed their gratitude.
They said this honor recognizes our casting directors’ talent and our branch’s dedication.
