2026 Oscars Nominees Luncheon: A Heartwarming Prelude to Hollywood's Biggest Night
The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles transformed into a sanctuary of shared joy and genuine connection on Tuesday, February 10, as the 2026 Oscars nominees gathered for their annual luncheon. This exclusive event offered a refreshing departure from the typical competitive atmosphere, instead showcasing true-life hugs, spontaneous laughter, and wide-eyed disbelief among some of the year's fiercest cinematic contenders.
Elegant Arrivals and Emotional Reunions
Actors arrived in stunning fashion, with Emma Stone making a bold statement in a sharp black tuxedo-style gown and heels, her yellow Oscar-nominee name tag gleaming under the ballroom lights. Nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Bugonia, Stone moved through the venue with cocktail in hand, embodying both sophistication and excitement.
Across the room, fellow Best Actress contender Kate Hudson created a striking visual contrast in a bright red silk dress finished with black leather gloves. Recognized for her role in Song Sung Blue, Hudson's presence helped transform the lounge into something halfway between a red carpet event and a long-overdue family reunion.
Teyana Taylor's "Fairytale" Moment
First-time nominee Teyana Taylor stood out in a sheer-paneled black skirt layered under a sequined black coat, her entire posture radiating disbelief at her Best Supporting Actress nomination for One Battle After Another. Throughout the luncheon, she engaged in tight conversations with fellow contenders including Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein) and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent), moments that highlighted the rare privilege of sharing the same ballot with respected peers.
In a statement circulated through her team, Taylor described her nomination as "beyond anything I ever allowed myself to fully believe was possible." She elaborated on this emotional journey, saying, "I fell asleep last night watching Pretty Woman, thinking about happy endings and how impossible they sometimes feel... and I woke up realizing I've been living in one that God has been preparing me for my own fairytale ending."
The actress expressed profound gratitude, adding, "I am so deeply emotional, so humbled, and so grateful for every person who has walked this road with me & honored to be nominated alongside these amazing women in my category." She specifically thanked director Paul Thomas Anderson for an experience that changed her "heart, life, and spirit," promising to dedicate the moment to those who supported her journey.
A Gathering of Hollywood's Finest
Photographs from inside the Beverly Hilton captured nominees swapping stories in quiet corners, while a full-cast group portrait documented the powerful mix of nerves, excitement, and outright joy that had traveled from separate film sets into one crowded ballroom. The event also highlighted other high-profile names including Michael B. Jordan and writer-director Ryan Coogler, both nominated for their work on the film Sinners.
Best Actress nominee Rose Byrne, whose Golden Globe-winning turn in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You has already reshaped how awards-season fans view her range, mingled with fellow artists. Throughout the venue, Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Jessie Buckley, Steven Spielberg, Benicio del Toro, and songwriter Diane Warren were seen catching up in small clusters, their banter balancing the gravity of Oscar shortlists with the casual ease of colleagues who have endured similar long shoot days and nerve-racking press circuits.
More Than Just a Pre-Oscars Event
With the 2026 Oscars ceremony scheduled for March 15, this nominees luncheon served less as a polished industry pageant and more as a warm-up rehearsal for Hollywood's biggest night. It provided a precious opportunity for nominees to express, out loud, how much it meant simply to be in the same room with one another and on the same ballot. The atmosphere crackled with mutual respect and shared understanding of the extraordinary journey each artist had undertaken to reach this point.
The event underscored how, beyond the competition and glamour, the Oscars experience represents a profound professional milestone that creates lasting bonds among filmmakers. As nominees prepare for the final stretch toward the March ceremony, this luncheon will likely be remembered as the moment when individual achievements transformed into a collective celebration of cinematic excellence.
