A Soundtrack of Cinematic Visions

Nick Cave’s haunting track ‘Train Dreams,’ drawn from the film of the same name, has earned a place on the shortlist. Ed Sheeran’s contribution, ‘Drive,’ features in the high-octane world of F1, the Brad Pitt-starring racing drama. Adding a unique flavor to the mix is ‘Golden’ from KPop Demon Hunters, performed by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X. This inclusion highlights the growing influence of pop culture and genre-bending narratives within the awards landscape.

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross continue their remarkable streak, securing nominations for both Best Original Song and Best Original Score for the second consecutive year. Their work on Nine Inch Nails’ contribution to Tron: Ares, the track ‘As Alive As You Need Me To Be,’ demonstrates their continued ability to craft atmospheric and emotionally resonant music for film. This nomination underscores Reznor and Ross’s versatility as composers, moving seamlessly between industrial rock and orchestral soundscapes.

Beyond these prominent names, the Best Original Score category boasts an impressive roster of talent. Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood is recognized for his work on One Battle After Another, while Bryce Dessner of The National lends his compositional skills to Train Dreams. Hans Zimmer, a veteran of countless blockbuster scores, is also in contention for his work on F1. These nominations reflect a trend towards recognizing composers who bring artistic depth and innovation to their craft.

The competition extends to Miley Cyrus, with ‘Dream As One’ from Avatar: Fire And Ash, Kesha’s poignant ‘Dear Me’ from Diane Warren: Restless, and Billy Idol and J. Ralph’s ‘Dying To Live,’ featured in Idol’s documentary, Billy Idol Should Be Dead. These diverse selections demonstrate the breadth of musical styles vying for recognition.

The full lists of nominees for both Best Original Song and Best Original Score are detailed below. Which of these compositions do you believe will ultimately capture the Academy’s attention?

Best Original Song

• ‘As Alive As You Need Me To Be’ from Tron: Ares – Nine Inch Nails, Boys Noize
• ‘Dear Me’ from Diane Warren: Relentless – Kesha
• ‘Dream As One’ from Avatar: Fire and Ash – Miley Cyrus
• ‘Drive’ from F1 – Ed Sheeran
• ‘Dying To Live’ from Billy Idol Should Be Dead – Billy Idol, J. Ralph
• ‘The Girl In The Bubble’ from Wicked: For Good – Ariana Grande
• ‘Golden’ from KPop Demon Hunters – HUNTR/X
• ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ from Highest 2 Lowest – Aiyana-Lee
• ‘I Lied To You’ from Sinners – Miles Caton
• ‘Last Time (I Seen The Sun)’ from Sinners – Alice Smith, Miles Caton
• ‘No Place Like Home’ from Wicked: For Good – Cynthia Erivo
• ‘Our Love’ from The Ballad of Wallis Island – Tom Badsen, Carey Mulligan
• ‘Salt Then Sour Then Sweet’ from Come See Me in the Good Light – Sara Bareilles
• ‘Sweet Dreams Of Joy’ from Viva Verdi! – Nicholas Pike, Ana María Martínez
• ‘Train Dreams’ from Train Dreams – Nick Cave

Best Original Score

• Avatar: Fire and Ash – Simon Franglen
• Bugonia – Jerskin Fendrix
• Captain America: Brave New World – Laura Karpman
• Diane Warren: Relentless – Lesley Barber
• F1 – Hans Zimmer
• Frankenstein – Alexandre Desplat
• Hamnet – Max Richter
• Hedda – Hildur Guðnadóttir
• A House Of Dynamite – Volker Bertelmann
• Jay Kelly – Nicholas Britell
• Marty Supreme – Daniel Lopatin
• Nuremberg – Brian Tyler
• One Battle After Another – Jonny Greenwood
• Sinners – Ludwig Göransson
• Sirât – Kangding Ray
• Train Dreams – Bryce Dessner
• Tron: Ares – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
• Truth And Treason – Aaron Zigman
• Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery – Nathan Johnson
• Wicked: For Good – John Powell, Stephen Schwartz

The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 15, 2026, with Conan O’Brien returning as host. The complete list of nominations will be revealed on January 22, 2026. Last year, ‘El Mal’ from Emilia Pérez took home the Best Original Song award, while The Brutalist was honored with Best Original Score.

The increasing diversity of nominees suggests a willingness from the Academy to embrace a wider range of musical styles and cinematic storytelling. Will this trend continue in 2026, and what impact will it have on the future of film music?

Frequently Asked Questions About the Oscars 2026 Music Nominations

• What is the significance of the Oscars Best Original Song shortlist?
  The shortlist represents a crucial step in the awards process, narrowing down a large pool of eligible songs to a select few contenders for the final nomination.
• Which artists are nominated for Best Original Song in 2026?
  Nick Cave, Nine Inch Nails, Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, Billy Idol, Ariana Grande, and HUNTR/X are among the artists shortlisted for Best Original Song.
• Who composed the score for Tron: Ares?
  Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, as Nine Inch Nails, composed the score for Tron: Ares and have received nominations for both Best Original Song and Best Original Score.
• What films are represented in the Best Original Score nominations?
  Films such as Avatar: Fire and Ash, F1, One Battle After Another, and Tron: Ares are represented in the Best Original Score nominations.
• When will the full list of Oscar nominations be announced?
  The full list of nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
• How does a song become eligible for the Best Original Song Oscar?
  A song must be specifically written for a film and meet other eligibility requirements set by the Academy, including being publicly released during the qualifying period.