The 2026 Academy Award nominations were announced today, and with them, the contenders for Best Original Song. This year’s nominees are Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner’s “Train Dreams” (from the film of the same name), Huntr/x’s “Golden” (KPop Demon Hunters), Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson’s “I Lied to You” (Sinners), Dianne Warren’s “Dear Me” (Dianne Warren: Relentless), and Nicholas Pike’s “Sweet Dreams of Joy” (Viva Verdi!). A winner will be named at the awards ceremony on Sunday, March 15, hosted by Conan O’Brien at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Back in December, the Academy shared a shortlist of songs in the running for a nomination. Among those that didn’t make the final cut were Nine Inch Nails’ “As Alive as You Need Me to Be” (Tron: Ares), Aiyana-Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest,” Miley Cyrus’ “Dream as One” (Avatar: Fire and Ash), John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, and Blake Slatkin’s “Drive” (F1), and two songs from Wicked: For Good. In 2025, the award went to Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard for “El Mal,” from Audiard’s musical drama Emilia Perez.
Follow all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2026 Academy Awards.
Best Original Song
Sara Bareilles, Brandi Carlile, Andrea Gibson: “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” (Come See Me in the Good Light)
Diane Warren: “Dear Me” (Diane Warren: Relentless)
Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson: “I Lied to You” (Sinners)
Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner: “Train Dreams” (Train Dreams)
Nicholas Pike: “Sweet Dreams of Joy” (Viva Verdi!)
