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 watched young actors in film and streaming. Her invitation adds another prestige marker to a career already built around horror, fantasy and franchise visibility.
Elordi, listed for “Frankenstein” and “Saltburn,” also enters the Academy conversation at a high point in his screen career. His recent projects have placed him firmly in the prestige film lane, while his celebrity profile keeps him visible far beyond awards coverage.
Taylor’s invitation adds another crossover layer to the class. The Academy listed her credits as “One Battle after Another” and “A Thousand and One.” Her presence gives the new membership group a strong music, fashion and film connection, a combination that often draws interest from entertainment readers who follow both screen work and celebrity red carpet culture.
Simu Liu, listed for “Barbie” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” brings blockbuster recognition to the group. Josh O’Connor, whose listed credits include “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” and “Challengers,” represents another actor whose profile has continued to grow through high-visibility film roles.
New Academy Class Expands Beyond Red Carpet Names
The 2026 invitation list is not limited to actors. The Academy said the new members span 19 branches and one membership classification, a structure that includes professionals working across directing, writing, producing, animation, cinematography, costume design, sound, visual effects, film editing and other key areas of filmmaking.
That matters because the Oscar race is not shaped by performers alone. Behind every major awards contender are the craftspeople who build a film’s look, sound, rhythm and overall impact. By adding hundreds of professionals across those fields, the Academy is bringing new voices into the process that evaluates films from multiple angles.
The animation branch includes names tied to projects such as “KPop Demon Hunters,” “Moana 2,” “Elio,” “Inside Out 2,” “Encanto” and “Zootopia 2.” Those credits show how strongly family films, animated franchises and global studio releases remain connected to awards culture.
The filmmakers invited include Josh and Benny Safdie, along with Zach Cregger and Oliver Laxe, according to public reporting. Their inclusion gives the class a mix of studio visibility, independent film credibility and international reach.
Oscar Voting Body Could Grow Again
If all 529 invitees accept, the Academy’s total membership would reach 11,319, with 10,338 active voting members. That figure shows how much the organization has grown over the past decade as it has expanded its membership base and brought in more artists from outside traditional Hollywood circles.
The Academy said membership selection is based on professional qualifications. Its process is conducted by sponsorship rather than open application. Academy Award nominees are automatically considered for membership in the year they are nominated and do not require sponsors.
Branch executive committees review candidates, and those recommendations go through the Membership Committee before reaching the Board of Governors for final approval. The Academy also said those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to its membership in 2026.
The 2026 invited class is 42 percent women, 56 percent from underrepresented communities and 53 percent from 60 countries and territories outside the United States, according to the Academy. If every invitee accepts, the Academy said its overall membership would be 36 percent women, 25 percent from underrepresented communities and 22 percent international.
Awards Season Buzz Starts Before the Red Carpet
The timing of the announcement gives awards watchers another reason to pay attention before the next wave of premieres, festival debuts and nomination campaigns. Academy membership announcements often arrive before the red carpet season reaches full speed, but they still help frame which names are gaining institutional recognition.
For stars such as Ortega, Elordi, Taylor and Liu, the invitation is not the same as a nomination. It does, however, place them inside one of the most influential film organizations in the world. That kind of recognition can affect how their careers are discussed during interviews, festival appearances, premiere coverage and awards season roundups.
Ortega remains closely watched by younger entertainment audiences. Elordi continues to attract attention across prestige projects and style coverage. Taylor brings music, screen and fashion appeal. Liu remains tied to blockbuster fandom and mainstream movie culture.
