We Ranked the 2026 Oscars Nominees for Production Design—and Our Top Choice Will Surprise You

We Ranked the 2026 Oscar Nominees for Production Design—See Our Top Pick Ken Woroner/Netflix

The Academy has spoken. On Thursday, January 22nd, actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman announced the nominees for the 98th annual Academy Awards. While most of the internet is clamoring about Sinners’record-breaking 16 nods or Wicked: For Good’s surprise snubs, we can’t stop thinking about the candidates for Best Production Design. Because, let’s face it: As professional homebodies, it’s kind of our thing.

In a world where artificial intelligence and computer-generated imagery are prevalent, production design might seem like no big deal. A mere backdrop that yields to fabulous costumes and a juicy plot. And if something doesn’t look just right, can’t it always be edited in post-production? Not for these nominees. With an acute attention to detail and serious architectural chops, these production teams go to great lengths to create an atmosphere that’s historical, realistic, or sometimes fantastical. If you think tackling that DIY project in your home is challenging, just think about what it must take to, say, recreate William Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.

The nominations are in, but who will win? While we won’t know who will walk away with a statue until March 15, we ranked all five contenders and shared who we think should win top honors.

5. Marty Supreme

When tasked with reimagining the 1950s for Marty Supreme, production designer Jack Fisk doubled down on the details. “You like to start somewhere, and you think that if it’s closer to authenticity, it might help the actors understand their character,” he told Variety. “We start with the most accurate representation we can find, and then we alter it to work for the film.”

Case in point: Lawrence’s Broadway Table Tennis Club, where Marty honed his ping pong craft. Fisk read The Money Player, which largely inspired the movie, worked to track down blueprints of the real-life…

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