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Awards Season Overview

Awards season is nearing its finale with the upcoming Oscars ceremony, and new data from Taboola shows that online interest in the event continues to surge around key announcements and industry milestones.

Taboola analyzed readership trends across its network of publisher sites in the U.S., reviewing millions of pageviews on Oscars-related content over the past 90 days. The data highlights which films, actors, and directors are generating the most audience attention ahead of the ceremony.

Online interest has spiked several times this season:

• December 17: Readership increased nearly 1,000% after news surfaced that the Oscars would move to YouTube starting in 2026.
• January 22: Online interest surged nearly 3,000% following the announcement of the 2026 Oscar nominees.
• March 1: Readership rose 288% following the Actor Awards, which are often viewed as predictors of Oscar winners.

Taboola’s Predicted 2026 Oscar Winners Based on Readership

Based on which nominees generated the most readership across Taboola’s network of publisher sites in the U.S. over the past 90 days, the predicted winners are:

• Best Picture: Marty Supreme
• Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet
• Best Actress: Kate Hudson
• Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor
• Best Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi
• Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Best Picture: Marty Supreme

Among nominated films, Marty Supreme leads readership with 1.5M pageviews, outpacing other high-profile titles like Sinners and F1. Interestingly, while F1 generated the highest box office revenue of the group, it ranks third in readership, suggesting that audience curiosity does not always mirror box office success.

Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet leads the Best Actor race in readership with 1.8M pageviews. Chalamet’s lead suggests that audience attention this season is heavily concentrated around his performance. With more than double the readership of Leonardo DiCaprio, his role has become one of the most talked-about in the Best Actor race, reflecting both strong awards-season momentum and widespread cultural visibility.

Best Actress: Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson dominates the Best Actress category in readership with 930K pageviews, generating roughly 500% more attention than Emma Stone, the next most-read nominee. Hudson’s readership surge may reflect strong audience interest in her return to the awards conversation. After years primarily associated with comedy and romantic roles, her performance in Song Sung Blue appears to be generating renewed curiosity among readers.

Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor

In the supporting actress category, Teyana Taylor leads with 809K pageviews, followed by Elle Fanning with 430K. Taylor’s lead in readership may reflect strong audience curiosity around a breakout awards-season performance. When artists known for work in music and entertainment receive major acting recognition, coverage often attracts heightened reader interest.

Best Supporting Actor: Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi tops the supporting actor category with 413K pageviews, edging out Delroy Lindo and other nominees. Elordi’s lead in readership suggests strong audience curiosity around a rising actor entering the awards conversation. As one of the younger nominees in the category with a growing profile in film and television, his nomination appears to be attracting significant attention across entertainment coverage.

Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Among directors, Paul Thomas Anderson leads readership with 445K pageviews, followed by Ryan Coogler. Anderson’s lead in readership likely reflects the strong following he has built among film audiences over the course of his career. As one of the most recognizable filmmakers in the category, coverage of his work appears to be attracting significant attention from readers closely following this year’s awards race.

Key Data Takeaways

Taboola’s data suggests that audience attention this Oscars season is driven more by standout performances and cultural conversation than by box office success alone.

• Audience curiosity doesn’t always mirror box office performance. Marty Supreme leads readership among nominated films despite earning less at the box office than F1.
• Attention in leading acting categories is highly concentrated. Timothée Chalamet generated 111% more readership than the next Best Actor nominee, while Kate Hudson attracted roughly 500% more attention than Emma Stone.
• Breakout and rising stars are drawing strong engagement. Teyana Taylor and Jacob Elordi generated readership levels comparable to several leading-role nominees.
• Actors drive more audience interest than directors. Coverage of performers significantly outpaced director-related content during awards season.

These readership patterns highlight how awards season drives sustained cultural conversation across entertainment media.