Race/Ethnicity Overall

Tracy A Woodward/The Washington Post; CBS via Getty Images; Michael Buckner/Deadline/Shutterstock; The Associated Press; Charley Gallay/Getty Images for TNT

Overall 1929-2026

Of the 13,870 nominees since 1929, 6% were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups. The ratio of white to underrepresented nominees is 15 to 1. The first underrepresented nominee appeared in 1936 (Achmed Abdullah, Merle Oberon). Seven percent of all winners were from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups. The first person of color to win an Academy Award® did so in 1940 (Hattie McDaniel).

More than three-quarters (77%) of underrepresented nominees were only nominated once. In contrast, 60% of white nominees earned only one nomination. Three underrepresented nominees had 10 nominations each– the most for any underrepresented nominee: Alfonso Cuarón, James Wong Howe, and Denzel Washington. In contrast, 119 white nominees (1% of all white nominees) had more than ten nominations– these nominees earned between 11 to 54 nods.

Of all Academy Award winners, <2% were women of color.

2026 Nominees

Of the 218 nominees in 2026, 28% were from an underrepresented racial/ethnic group and 72% were white. 2026 ranks first across all 98 years in the percentage of underrepresented nominees.

28%

of 218 nominees were underrepresented

12%

of nominees were women of color