The Oscars is introducing a brand-new category

The Academy Awards is adding a new category for the show in 2026 for best achievement in casting.

The Oscars is not known for its flexibility or for making changes to its prestigious award show. However, the Academy announced on February 8 that it would be adding a new category to the award show.

This will be the first time since 2001 that the awards body has introduced a new category. The last new category added to the show was best animated feature film. The Academy last tried to add an award to the show, the popular film category, in 2018 but it never came to fruition as audiences found the parameters confusing.

Different sections of the movie-making industry have lobbied to be recognized at the Oscars, most notably stunt performers, and it seems to have paid off for casting directors.

Oscars add in Casting Director category

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang released a joint statement about the news announcing that an award honoring casting directors will be added to the show in 2026.

“Casting directors play an essential role in filmmaking, and as the Academy evolves, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines that we recognize and celebrate,” they said.

The casting director’s branch of the Academy launched in 2013 and has over 150 members. The award will seemingly be awarded to the director who managed to put together the best cast for the nominated features.

The move to add the award comes just two years after the Academy chose to show multiple below-the-line awards, like makeup, hairstyling, and production design, off camera to much criticism.

The 2024 Oscars is set for a March 10, 2024 start date and the new category might get a shoutout during the telecast.