
Oscar Academy Adds New Star Power Before Awards Season
Oscar momentum picked up this week after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited 529 artists and executives to join its 2026 membership class, adding a fresh wave of recognizable names to the group behind Hollywood’s most watched awards night. The new class brings together actors, filmmakers, musicians, producers, craftspeople, executives and technical artists from across the film industry. For entertainment audiences, the headline is clear. The Academy’s latest invitation list includes stars with major fan bases, rising screen power and strong red carpet recognition, including Jenna Ortega, Jacob Elordi, Teyana Taylor, Simu Liu, Josh O’Connor, Julia Garner, Mia Goth, Anthony Ramos, Jenny Slate, Jon Bernthal and Bill Skarsgård. While nominations are still months away, Academy membership news carries weight because members help decide the films and performances that advance through Hollywood’s biggest awards calendar. If the invitees accept, they become part of the voting body that shapes future Oscar results. Oscar Membership Class Puts Familiar Stars in the Spotlight The Academy’s actor branch drew much of the public attention because of the names attached to the new class. Ortega, listed by the Academy for “Death of a Unicorn” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” has become one of the most









































