Jacob Elordi and Jenna Ortega headline 529-strong list invited to join Oscars voting body

The 2026 Oscars are still a ways off, but the Academy is already doing the unglamorous part: paperwork. Step one every year is expanding the club — inviting new people into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — which also means adding fresh Oscar voters. This year’s invite list is out, and it is both packed and pretty interesting.

Who got the nod

The Academy says it has invited 529 artists and executives to join, recognizing their work in motion pictures this year. Inside that group: 95 past Oscar nominees ( 21 of them winners) and three recipients of Scientific and Technical Awards. It is slightly smaller than last year’s class of 534, but broader in some important ways.

Diversity snapshot, per the Academy’s own breakdown:

- 42% of invitees are women
- 56% come from underrepresented communities (up from 45% last year)
- 53% are international, spanning 60 countries and territories outside the U.S.

And yes, there are names you know. Among the newly invited:

• Jacob Elordi
• Mia Goth
• Jenna Ortega
• Julia Garner
• Josh O'Connor
• Paddy Considine
• Simu Liu
• Anthony Ramos
• Scoot McNairy
• Tig Notaro
• Bill Skarsgard
• Wood Harris

One nerdy membership-structure quirk worth flagging: nine people were selected by more than one branch and have to choose which branch they want to join. The Academy marks them with an asterisk on its list. Among them are Oliver Laxe, Chris Lavis, and Florence Miailhe.

How Academy membership actually works

Quick version: you cannot apply. Membership is invite-only. Here’s how people end up on that invite list:

- Oscar nominees are automatically considered for membership. They do not need outside sponsorships. In practice, the Academy reaches out — nominees do not have to chase an application.

- Folks who are not Oscar nominees or winners can still get in, but they need two sponsors from the relevant Academy branch to even be considered. From there, the Membership Committee and the Board of Governors make the final calls.

Once invitees say yes, they officially join the voting body that decides the Academy Awards. So if you are wondering who might be shaping the Oscars in the near future, a big chunk of that answer is in this class.

The takeaway

Fewer invites than last year, but a wider reach — especially internationally and across underrepresented communities. And with names like Elordi, Ortega, and Goth joining the mix (assuming they accept), expect the voter pool to keep inching toward a slightly younger, more global sensibility. Not a revolution, but a steady nudge.