The Academy Award for Best Original Song stands as one of the most glamorous and musically vibrant categories at the Oscars, honoring the art of creating a song that is born from and deeply intertwined with the cinematic experience. Presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since its inception at the 7th Academy Awards in 1935 (honoring films from 1934), this award recognizes the songwriters—typically the composers and lyricists—who craft an entirely new piece of music and lyrics specifically for a motion picture.
Historically, Best Original Song has produced some of the most enduring and culturally resonant moments in Oscar history. Classics like “Over the Rainbow” (The Wizard of Oz, 1939), “Moon River” (Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961), “Let It Go” (Frozen, 2013), and “Shallow” (A Star Is Born, 2018) not only won the statuette but transcended their films to become timeless hits.
From HUNTR/X’s “Golden” to Diane Warren’s “Dear Me,” here are the nominations for Best Original Song at the 2026 Academy Awards.
“Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless (Music and Lyric by Diane Warren)
“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters (Music and Lyric by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Ham, Jeong Hoon Seon, Teddy Park)
“I Lied to You” from Sinners (Music and Lyric by Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Goransson)
“Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi! (Music and Lyric by Nicholas Pike)
“Train Dreams” from Train Dreams (Music by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner, Lyric by Nick Cave)
About Each Oscar-Nominated Song for the 2026 Academy Awards
“Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless
A heartfelt ballad from Diane Warren’s documentary Dear Me marks an impressive 17th Oscar nomination for the 69-year-old songwriter. Warren is a recurring nominee—all in the Best Original Song category—and holds the record for the most-nominated woman without a competitive win, though she received an honorary Oscar in 2022.
“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters
Performed by HUNTR/X (EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna), “Golden” is the frontrunner for the award. The Billboard Hot 100–topping hit has already secured several major wins, including a prestigious Golden Globe Award. The nomination represents first-time Oscar nods for the songwriting team, including EJAE and Teddy Park, and marks a historic milestone as the first K-pop song ever nominated in this category.
“I Lied to You” from Sinners
A soulful, dramatic track from the film Sinners. Raphael Saadiq is a returning nominee, previously recognized for “Mighty River” from Mudbound (2017). Ludwig Göransson is also a repeat nominee, with prior nominations including Best Original Song for “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), along with multiple wins and nominations for Best Original Score, including wins for Black Panther and Oppenheimer.
“Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi!
An original song from the documentary Viva Verdi!, “Sweet Dreams of Joy” marks Nicholas Pike’s first-ever nomination in this category. He previously earned major Emmy wins and other accolades for his work in film and documentary music.
“Train Dreams” from Train Dreams
Both Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner receive their first nominations for Best Original Song. Cave has no prior Oscar nods, while Dessner has previously contributed to Oscar-nominated scores but had not been recognized in this category.
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