Oscars New Category: What Changed and How It Works

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes, the Oscars have added a new award category: Best Casting, which will be presented starting with the 2026 ceremony (the 98th Academy Awards). This marks the first new competitive Oscar category since Best Animated Feature was introduced in 2001, and it recognizes the work of casting directors, who had previously been honored only through a special honorary award.

Background: Why Now?

The push for a Best Casting category has been building for over a decade. The Casting Directors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was established in 2013, giving casting professionals a formal home within the organization. For years, industry advocates argued that casting is a fundamental creative element of filmmaking—choosing the right actor can make or break a movie—yet it was the only major craft discipline without its own competitive Oscar. The Academy’s Board of Governors voted in February 2025 to approve the new category, following a recommendation from the branch’s executive committee. The decision aligns with a broader trend in awards shows: the Emmy Awards have had a casting category since 1994, and the BAFTA Awards introduced one in 2020.

How the New Category Works

Best Casting will follow the same nomination and voting process as most other Oscar categories. Here are the key details:

Eligibility: All feature films released in the qualifying calendar year are eligible, provided they meet the Academy’s standard requirements (e.g., theatrical run in Los Angeles County).
Nominations: Members of the Casting Directors Branch will vote to select the nominees. The branch currently has roughly 160 members, all of whom are casting directors or associate casting directors.
Final voting: All Academy members across all branches vote on the winner from the nominated films.
Number of nominees: Five films will be nominated, consistent with most other Oscar categories.
Who receives the award: The Oscar goes to the casting director(s) credited on the winning film. If multiple casting directors worked on the same film, they all receive the award, similar to how multiple producers share a Best Picture win.

What Qualifies as “Casting” Work?

The category is designed to honor the full scope of a casting director’s job, not just the final decision. This includes:

Reading scripts and breaking down character requirements
Holding auditions and callbacks
Negotiating deals with talent agents and managers
Coordinating chemistry reads between actors
Discovering new talent and advocating for unconventional choices
Working with directors and producers to shape the ensemble

Notably, the category does not distinguish between studio films and independent productions. A small indie film with a casting director who discovered unknown actors is just as eligible as a blockbuster with a star-studded cast.

Common Misconceptions and Controversies

One common misconception is that Best Casting will reward films with the biggest stars. In practice, the Academy’s casting branch tends to value the difficulty of finding the right actor, not the most famous one. A film that casts a little-known actor who perfectly embodies a role may be more impressive than one that simply assembles A-list names.

Another point of debate is whether the category should be called “Best Casting” or “Best Achievement in Casting.” The Academy chose the simpler “Best Casting,” which aligns with the naming conventions of other categories like Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

Some critics have also questioned whether adding a category dilutes the prestige of existing awards. However, the Academy has stated that the new category will not affect the number of films nominated for Best Picture or any other category. The ceremony will simply add one more presentation, which will likely shorten the time allocated to other segments or extend the show slightly.

How It Compares to Other Awards

The Oscars are late to the game. The Emmy Awards have honored casting since 1994, with categories for both drama and comedy series. The BAFTA Awards introduced Best Casting in 2020, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) has had a “Best Ensemble” category since 1995, though that is voted on by actors rather than casting professionals. The Critics’ Choice Awards also added a Best Acting Ensemble category in 2020. The Oscar category is unique in that it is voted on by casting directors themselves, making it a more direct peer recognition.

Impact on the Film Industry

The addition of Best Casting has several practical implications:

Visibility: Casting directors will now receive public recognition during the biggest awards night of the year, which may lead to more film credits and better pay.
Awards campaigning: Studios will likely add casting directors to their awards-season strategies, including FYC (For Your Consideration) campaigns and screenings.
Film festivals: Festivals that give their own casting awards, like the Cannes Film Festival’s Trophée Chopard, may see increased attention.
Documentary and animation: The category is for feature films only, so documentaries and animated features are not eligible, even though they also involve casting (voice casting in animation is a significant skill).

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the first Best Casting Oscar be awarded?
The first Best Casting Oscar will be presented at the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, which is scheduled for March 15, 2026. Films released in 2025 are eligible.

Will the new category lengthen the Oscars broadcast?
Yes, the ceremony will include one more award presentation. The Academy has not announced any plans to shorten other segments, so the show is expected to be slightly longer, though producers may trim other parts to keep it under three hours.

Can a film win both Best Casting and Best Picture?
Yes, there is no rule preventing a film from winning multiple awards. In fact, films with strong ensembles often win Best Picture, so a double win is plausible.

Do casting directors get their own Oscar statuette?
Yes, each credited casting director on the winning film receives a full-size Oscar statuette. If there are multiple casting directors, each gets one, just as multiple producers each get a statuette for Best Picture.

How many casting directors are in the Academy?
As of 2025, the Casting Directors Branch has approximately 160 members. This is one of the smaller branches, but they are the ones who determine the nominees.

Is voice casting for animated films eligible?
No, the category is limited to feature films with live-action casts. Animated films are not eligible, though the Academy has not ruled out a separate voice-casting category in the future.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.