The songs from major hit movies make the cut at the Academy Awards

The race for Best Original Song at the Oscars just got serious! On Tuesday, December 16, 2026, the Academy revealed its shortlist of 15 songs selected from 65 eligible tracks, and big names like KPop Demon Hunters, Sinners, and Wicked: For Good made noise on the list. The tracks in question include: “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, two songs from Sinners, “I Lied To You,” “Last Time (I Seen the Sun),” and another two from Wicked: For Good, “The Girl in the Bubble” and “No Place Like Home.”

Renowned songwriters and their original songs

The shortlist also features major music names with serious star power. Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson, Billy Idol, Ed Sheeran, and EJAE all appear as songwriters. Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson co-wrote “Dream As One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash. Billy Idol contributed to “Dying To Live” from Billy Idol Should Be Dead. Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran appears credited on  “Drive” from F1. EJAE co-wrote “Golden,” adding another milestone to KPop Demon Hunters’ growing cultural footprint.
Meanwhile, Diane Warren once again secured her spot on the shortlist with “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, keeping alive her chance to earn her first Oscar in the category after nine consecutive nominations. The Academy’s music branch will now vote to narrow the list down to five nominees, which will be revealed on January 22, 2026. The final voting will decide the winner, who will earn the award at the 98th Oscars on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Full Oscar short list with the possible nominees for Best Original Song

“Dream As One” Miley Cyrus, Andrew Wyatt, Mark Ronson, Simon Franglen Avatar: Fire and Ash, 20th Century Studios “Our Love” Tom Basden, Carey Mulligan The Ballad of Wallis Island, Universal “Dying To Live” Billy Idol, J. Ralph, Steve Stevens, Tommy English, Joe Janiak Billy Idol Should Be Dead, Live Nation Productions “Salt Then Sour Then Sweet” Sara Bareilles, Brandi Carlile, Andrea Gibson Come See Me in the Good Light, Apple Original Films “Dear Me” Diane Warren Diane Warren: Relentless, Greenwich Entertainment/MasterClass “Drive” John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, Blake Slatkin F1, Apple Original Films “Highest 2 Lowest” Aiyana-Lee Anderson, Nicole Daciana Anderson Highest 2 Lowest, A24 “Golden” EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, IDO, 24, Teddy KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix “I Lied to You” Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson Sinners, Warner Bros. Pictures “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” Alice Smith, Miles Caton Sinners, Warner Bros. Pictures “Train Dreams” Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner Train Dreams, Netflix “As Alive as You Need Me To Be” Nine Inch Nails Tron: Ares, Disney “Sweet Dreams of Joy” Nicholas PikeViva Verdi!, LA Monte Productions “The Girl in the ­Bubble” Stephen Schwartz Wicked: For Good, Universal “No Place Like Home” Stephen Schwartz Wicked: For Good, Universal