Variety has updated its predictions for the best film editing category at the 2026 Oscars, highlighting films like F1, Sinners, One Battle After Another, Hamnet, and Sentimental Value. The list reflects current buzz in the awards race, curated by chief awards editor Clayton Davis and updated every Thursday. This year's contenders showcase diverse approaches to cinematic rhythm amid the category's historical ties to best picture winners.
The predictions, published on January 5, 2026, underscore the enduring link between the best film editing Oscar—introduced in 1934—and the best picture race. From 1981 through 2013, every best picture winner received an editing nomination, a 33-year streak that established the category as a key predictor. Approximately two-thirds of best picture winners have also claimed the editing award.
Exceptions in the expanded best picture era include Birdman in 2014 and CODA in 2021, both of which triumphed without editing nods. This season's editing contenders demonstrate varied philosophies of pacing and structure. Hamnet and Marty Supreme stand out due to their directors' involvement: Josh Safdie and Chloé Zhao co-edited their respective films, a rare feat. Only three directors have won the editing Oscar—James Cameron for Titanic, Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity, and Sean Baker for Anora—while others like David Lean, the Coen brothers (as Roderick Jaynes), and Zhao have earned nominations.
Editing's correlation with sound categories remains strong since 2013, though it has weakened recently. Films such as Gravity, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dunkirk, and Bohemian Rhapsody swept both during the split-sound era. Partial overlaps occurred with Hacksaw Ridge in 2016 and Ford v Ferrari in 2019. More lately, Everything Everywhere All at Once won editing in 2022 without a sound nomination, Oppenheimer took editing in 2023 but lost sound to The Zone of Interest, and Anora secured editing last year without sound while Dune: Part Two won sound.
F1 emerges as a frontrunner, bolstered by its Critics Choice Award for editing, commercial success, and wide appeal. It could challenge for a best picture nomination if guild support persists. All predictions are subject to change based on evolving buzz, with final determinations by the Academy.