The new Oscars category coming in 2026: Best Casting Direction

There is no event in the realm of cinema that matches the recognition and scope of the Oscars. From the first edition, held in May 1929 during a private lunch at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and attended by around 270 people – the entry fee for guests was five dollars – to the 2024 edition, many things have changed. There are also many that have remained unchanged.

One of the announcements that has surprised the cinema community the most is the introduction of a new statuette in this time-honoured ceremony. As confirmed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the United States, the Oscars will include the award for “Best Casting Direction” starting in 2026. Although this current year marks the 96th edition, the first recipient of this award will not be known until the 98th edition, which will be the result of a film released in 2025.

When was the last ‘new’ Oscar added?

Perhaps the magnitude of this expansion of the number of awards — 23 categories, not counting the one that has yet to be born — can be better understood by considering when the last time a new one was created. It was in 2001, over two decades ago. Back then, the decision was made to create the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.

Regarding the specifics of the award, although it can be inferred that it will indeed recognise the work of selecting actors and actresses who best fit the roles they portray, the truth is that the aspects and rules of this field are not yet known. We will have to wait for the statutes of the 98th Oscars edition to be revealed in order to learn more about them.

The importance of casting direction in cinema

Although recognition of this sector of the film industry has been slow to appear, the organization itself points to the necessity of rewarding those who perform best in a task without which the great projects that later dominate the box office could not be completed. “Casting directors play an essential role in filmmaking, and as the Academy evolves, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines we recognize and celebrate,” said Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy, during the announcement of the new category.

This appearance is just the tip of the iceberg of a struggle that has been going on in the industry for many years. The debate about including casting directors in these awards has been going on since the late nineties of the last century; without the full support of the Academy, this cause was shelved and archived. It passed without much notice. Thirty years later, it will become a reality.

“This award is a well-deserved recognition of the exceptional talent of casting directors,” celebrated members of the Casting Directors Branch of the Academy after the announcement, a union with 160 members that now smiles proudly as it realizes it has managed to push a mountain that rarely moves.