Oscar Predictions: Best Actor — The Most Competitive Category Awaits Leading Men Like Tom Cruise, Matt Damon and More

Home Film Awards Aug 13, 2026 4:31pm PT Oscar Predictions: Best Actor — The Most Competitive Category Awaits Leading Men Like Tom Cruise, Matt Damon and More By Clayton Davis Warner Bros. Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender.

As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change in response to buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday. blogherads.adq.push(function () { blogherads .defineSlot( 'medrec', 'gpt-variety-article-mid-article-uid0' ) .setTargeting( 'pos', ["mid-article1","mid-articleX","mid","mid-article"] ) .setTargeting( 'viewable', 'yes' ) .setSubAdUnitPath("ros\/mid-article") .addSize([[300,250],[2,2],[300,251],[2,4],[4,2],[320,480],[620,366]]) .setClsOptimization("minsize") ; }); Related Stories FCC Slammed by Former Agency Officials Over Review of ABC's Licenses: 'An Assault on Free Speech Disguised as Regulatory Process' ACLU Demands FCC Release Records Pertaining to ABC Early License Renewal, Alleging Agency's Stated Rationale for Review 'Does Not Seem Credible' Explore Awards Circuit Predictions PagesOscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in Michael. Photo son/Lionsgate Best Actor Predictions Commentary (Updated: Aug. 13, 2026): More to come.

Popular on Variety if ( !window.pmc.harmony?.isEventAdScheduledTime() ) } }, playerId: 'fdaee7b3-292f-4a85-89bb-29a56b567de3', playlistId: '019eb8f5-8351-7af5-8dd4-29ad0d5ed821', }).render("connatix_contextual_player_div"); }); } else The list of predictions in all categories can be found here. The Governors Awards, which will hand out honorary Oscars to Glenn Close and Ridley Scott, will take place Sunday, Nov. 15. Preliminary voting for the Oscars shortlist in 12 categories runs Dec. 7-11, with the shortlist announcement to follow Tuesday, Dec. 15.

Following the close of the eligibility period on Dec. 31, 2026, nominations voting will run Jan. 11-15, 2027. The official Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2027. The 99th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 14, 2027, and will be hosted by Conan O’Brien.

The ceremony airs live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. See all Academy Awards predictions Variety Awards Circuit: Oscars Screenshot Screenshot courtesy YouTube/Searchlight Pictures (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0)}})}e()})(); JavaScript is required to load the comments.

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