2026 Spirit Awards Nominations Revealed: Complete List

The anticipation for the 2026 Spirit Awards is building with the announcement of nominations. These awards celebrate excellence in film and television, recognizing both new talent and established artists.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Spirit Awards, films must have budgets of less than $30 million. For consideration in the John Cassavetes Award category, films must have budgets capped at $1 million. In television, only new shows that aired for one season between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, are eligible. Anthology series qualify only in their inaugural season.

Award Ceremony Details

The 40th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards will take place on February 15, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium. This prestigious event recognizes outstanding works in various categories, covering both film and television.

Complete List of Nominations

• Best Screenplay
  • A Little Prayer
  • Sorry, Baby
  • Sovereign
  • Splitsville
  • Twinless
• Best Documentary
  • Come See Me in the Good Light
  • Endless Cookie
  • My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in Moscow
  • The Perfect Neighbor
  • The Tale of Silyan
• Best Lead Performance
  • Everett Blunck, The Plague
  • Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
  • Kathleen Chalfant, Familiar Touch
  • Chang Chen, Lucky Lu
  • Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams
  • Dylan O’Brien, Twinless
  • Keke Palmer, One of Them Days
  • Théodore Pellerin, Lurker
  • Tessa Thompson, Hedda
  • Ben Whishaw, Peter Hujar’s Day
• Best Director
  • Clint Bentley, Train Dreams
  • Mary Bronstein, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
  • Lloyd Lee Choi, Lucky Lu
  • Ira Sachs, Peter Hujar’s Day
  • Eva Victor, Sorry, Baby
• Best Feature
  • Peter Hujar’s Day
  • The Plague
  • Sorry, Baby
  • Train Dreams
  • Twinless

Television Categories

• Best New Scripted Series
  • Adolescence
  • Common Side Effects
  • Forever
  • Mr Loverman
  • North of North
• Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series
  • Sydney Chandler, Alien: Earth
  • Stephen Graham, Adolescence
  • Ethan Hawke, The Lowdown
  • Lennie James, Mr Loverman
  • Anna Lambe, North of North
  • Lola Petticrew, Say Nothing
  • Seth Rogen, The Studio
  • Lovie Simone, Forever
  • Michelle Williams, Dying for Sex
  • Noah Wyle, The Pitt

Conclusion

The 2026 Spirit Awards nominations promise a thrilling showcase of talent and creativity. As the ceremony approaches, filmmakers and television creators eagerly await the recognition of their hard work.