The 2026 Oscar nominations delivered celebration, shock and familiar frustration in equal measure, as record-breaking success for ‘Sinners’ was matched by a string of high-profile omissions that reignited long-running debates about taste, risk and recognition within the Academy.

Leading the snubs was ‘Wicked: For Good’, the lavish musical sequel that arrived burdened with expectations after its predecessor’s awards triumph, only to exit nominations morning entirely empty-handed, despite strong box office returns and sustained awards-season campaigning.

Ariana Grande’s absence from the supporting actress category proved particularly striking, given her consistent recognition elsewhere this season, reinforcing perceptions that the Academy remains wary of franchise continuity and mainstream musical spectacle when ballots are finally cast.

Equally surprising was the omission of Chase Infiniti, whose breakout performance in ‘One Battle After Another’ earned Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and Actor Awards nominations, but failed to translate into an Oscar nod despite the film’s otherwise dominant showing.

Paul Mescal also found himself on the outside, overlooked for best supporting actor for ‘Hamnet’, even as the film secured multiple nominations, highlighting the unforgiving mathematics of an exceptionally crowded acting field.

Jennifer Lawrence’s exclusion for ‘Die, My Love’ further fuelled discussion, as months of sustained Oscar buzz evaporated overnight, underscoring how momentum can falter abruptly once voting bodies diverge in their assessments.

Park Chan-wook’s ‘No Other Choice’ suffered one of the starkest shutouts, missing every category despite widespread critical acclaim, reminding observers that international prestige and glowing reviews offer no guarantees under the Academy’s preferential system.

Adam Sandler’s miss for ‘Jay Kelly’ continued a long-running pattern in which comedic performers struggle to break through, even when dramatic turns attract serious attention during precursor season conversations.

Miley Cyrus was another casualty, failing to secure a best original song nomination for ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, despite an aggressive campaign that suggested music branch support might finally align in her favour.

Odessa A’Zion also fell short for ‘Marty Supreme’, snubbed in supporting actress despite Actor Awards recognition, while Regina Hall missed out for ‘One Battle After Another’, a result that surprised many given the film’s overall strength.

Together, the snubs reveal an Academy still wrestling with evolving tastes, global influences and industry politics, proving once again that Oscars morning rewards consensus but rarely delivers unanimity.

The 2026 Oscar nominations delivered a landmark moment for a new cohort of performers, as a striking number of actors earned their first-ever Academy Award nods, signalling a generational shift alongside the industry’s familiar awards-season heavyweights.

At the forefront is Michael B Jordan, finally recognised by the Academy for his dual performance as twin brothers in Ryan Coogler’s segregation-era vampire thriller ‘Sinners’. Long regarded as overdue, Jordan’s best actor nomination crowns a career that has balanced blockbuster appeal with increasingly ambitious dramatic choices.

The first-time nominee list also includes Jacob Elordi, whose transformation into the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ secured him a supporting actor nomination. Known primarily for television and youth-driven cinema, Elordi’s recognition marks a decisive step into prestige filmmaking.

Teyana Taylor earned her inaugural Oscar nod for supporting actress for ‘One Battle After Another’, turning a brief but emotionally charged performance into a standout moment of the season, following earlier Golden Globe success.

Veteran actor Delroy Lindo, despite decades of acclaimed work, also joined the first-time nominees with a supporting actor nomination for ‘Sinners’, a reminder of the Academy’s tendency to arrive late to some careers rather than early.

In the best actress race, Rose Byrne secured her first Oscar nomination for ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’, a demanding lead role that has been praised for its raw portrayal of maternal exhaustion and psychological strain.

International cinema is similarly represented, with Wagner Moura landing his first nomination for best actor for Brazilian political thriller ‘The Secret Agent’, and Renate Reinsve earning a maiden best actress nod for Norwegian drama ‘Sentimental Value’.

Supporting actress nominations for Wunmi Mosaku and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas further underline the Academy’s growing openness to global performances.

Together, the first-time nominees of 2026 reflect an Academy cautiously expanding its embrace, rewarding bold performances across genres, geographies and career stages, while reminding Hollywood that recognition, however delayed, still carries symbolic weight.

Despite changing lifestyles and modern food choices, traditional breakfasts from Pakistan’s provinces continue to thrive, with people across cities embracing age-old flavours and regional dishes that keep local winter food traditions alive.

The deep cold and foggy mornings have driven a surge in demand for traditional breakfast foods across Pakistan, preserving regional breakfast culture this winter. Popular stalls and cafés in urban centres have also recorded increased early-morning footfall.

Saag, plates of halwa puri, nihari, paye, and anda paratha are among the top choices for those seeking warm, familiar meals to start the day. Shop owners said that both families and workers are returning to age-old morning favourites as temperatures drop, making winter the busiest season for local breakfast vendors.

Across the provinces, each region’s morning menu reflects its culinary roots. In Punjab, hearty halwa puri with chana and siri paye remain winter favourites, while nihari continues to draw crowds to early-morning food streets.

Sindh’s breakfast scene features spicy ‘anda paratha’ and local kebabs served with chutney, and in Balochistan, rich paye — slow-cooked trotters served with naan — are celebrated as soul food during the cold season.

In northern areas like Gilgit-Baltistan and Hunza, traditional staples such as phitti and hearty grain-and-meat porridges provide sustaining breakfasts against the chill. In Azad Kashmir, locals begin winter days with breads like chochwor, paired with pink noon chai.

These regional dishes continue to shape morning routines from city food streets to mountain villages, demonstrating how winter drives both comfort and culinary tradition nationwide.

Customers commented that winter’s chill, combined with the smoke rising from stoves frying hot halwa puri on Sunday mornings, has become a familiar sight that draws crowds to traditional breakfast spots.

In Sheikhupura, a local shopkeeper said the aroma of crispy puri with chana attracts early-morning patrons. In Karachi, vendors reported that nihari remains a top winter favourite, with steaming bowls of the slow-cooked stew pulling in regular customers as temperatures drop.

British pop music’s next generation took centre stage on Wednesday as Olivia Dean and Lola Young led the nominations for the 2026 BRIT Awards, each securing five nods and underlining a shift in the industry towards fresher, more diverse voices.

Dean, 26, is nominated for artist of the year, album of the year for ‘The Art of Loving’, pop act, and twice for song of the year with ‘Man I Need’ and her collaboration with Sam Fender, ‘Rein Me In’.

Her second album has built on the success of her 2023 debut ‘Messy’, topping the UK charts and climbing to No 3 in the United States. Lead single ‘Man I Need’ has remained a fixture in the UK Top 10 since its release in August, signalling Dean’s growing international reach.

She is also the first performer confirmed for this year’s awards ceremony, which moves to Manchester for the first time in the BRITs’ near five-decade history.

Lola Young, 25, matches Dean with five nominations across artist of the year, breakthrough artist, alt/rock act, pop act, and song of the year for ‘Messy’. Her 2025 album earned widespread acclaim for its blunt lyricism and genre-spanning sound, exploring addiction, emotional instability and romantic frustration with unusual candour.

Young and Dean, both former students of the BRIT School, are also nominated for best new artist at next month’s Grammy Awards, reinforcing their status as two of the most influential British breakthroughs of the past year. Their rise has been cited in the latest BPI Year in Music report as emblematic of a broader revival in British pop.

Sam Fender received four nominations, including artist of the year, album of the year for ‘People Watching’, alt/rock act and song of the year for ‘Rein Me In’. Fender, who won the 2025 Mercury Prize, continues to attract praise for his socially observant songwriting and arena-ready sound.

Artists receiving three nominations include Dave, recognised for artist of the year, album of the year for ‘The Boy Who Played the Harp’, and hip-hop/grime/rap act; Jim Legxacy, up for breakthrough artist, hip-hop/grime/rap act and R&B act; Lily Allen, nominated for artist of the year, album of the year for ‘West End Girl’ and pop act; Fred, shortlisted for artist of the year, song of the year and dance act; and Wolf Alice, nominated for group of the year, album of the year for ‘The Clearing’, and alt/rock act.

The 2026 nominations mark a record level of representation, with 69.2% featuring women and non-binary artists either as solo performers or within mixed-gender groups. Jo Twist, Chief Executive of the British Phonographic Industry, said the list reflected “a next generation of brilliant artists who have broken through with real global impact”.

The ceremony will take place on February 28 at Manchester’s Co-op Live and will be broadcast on ITV and ITVX. Jack Whitehall returns as host for the sixth time. The BRIT trophy this year has been designed by Manchester-born designer Matthew Williamson, featuring amber-toned resin inspired by the worker bee, the city’s symbol.

Nominations were announced via ‘Bring on the BRITs’, a digital broadcast filmed at Co-op Live and streamed across the BRITs’ social platforms. Hosts Charley Marlowe and Sarah Story revealed nominees across 15 categories and featured a performance by Scottish singer-songwriter Jacob Alon, winner of this year’s Critics’ Choice award.

Alon, whose debut album ‘In Limerence’ earned a 2025 Mercury Prize shortlist place, said the recognition felt transformative after growing up in Edinburgh’s folk scene. Past Critics’ Choice winners include Dua Lipa, Adele, Florence + The Machine, Sam Smith and Jorja Smith, many of whom went on to global success.

International categories include first-time nominees Bad Bunny, Doechii, ROSALÍA and Sombr for International Artist of the Year, alongside Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. In International Group, animated trio Huntr/x from ‘KPop Demon Hunter’ secured a nomination, while International Song of the Year contenders include Cynthia Erivo for her rendition of ‘Defying Gravity’ from ‘Wicked’.

Several high-profile omissions drew attention, with Ed Sheeran nominated only in the commercially driven song category for ‘Azizam’, while Florence + The Machine, Mumford & Sons and Biffy Clyro were absent despite strong chart performances.

Winners will be decided by the BRITs Voting Academy, comprising around 1,200 industry figures, except for Song of the Year and International Song of the Year, which will be determined by public voting via WhatsApp.

As Manchester prepares to host the awards for the first time, organisers say the move reflects both the city’s musical legacy and the evolving geography of British pop, with the 2026 BRITs poised to spotlight a new era led by Dean, Young and a rapidly diversifying field of artists.