Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo snubbed as Oscars overlook 'Wicked: For Good'

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have been left off the 2026 Academy Awards nomination list, sparking a surge of criticism and disbelief from fans worldwide.

When the Oscars nominations were revealed Thursday morning, Wicked: For Good, the sequel to the hugely popular musical adaptation, failed to receive recognition in any category, including acting nods for its leading stars.

Grande, who reprised her role as Glinda, and Erivo, who returns as Elphaba, were both notably absent from the Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress categories.

As per Daily Mail, their omission comes despite both actresses earning nominations for their performances in the previous Wicked film at the 2025 Oscars and securing attention during this year’s awards season at the Golden Globes.

Social media quickly filled with fan frustration, with some critics labeling the exclusion a “robbery” and accusing the Academy of overlooking standout performances in a major blockbuster. 

Moreover, many supporters questioned how a film that had generated significant buzz and critical discussion could be entirely shut out of the awards race.

The Wicked franchise has been a cultural phenomenon, with the original adaptation earning multiple nominations and wins last year. 

Despite its box office success and vocal fanbase, the sequel struggled to translate that momentum into Academy recognition this year.

Neither Grande nor Erivo has publicly commented on the snub, as per the publication.

The 98th Oscars ceremony will air on March 15, 2026, hosted by Conan O’Brien.

Related: Ariana Grande titled ‘Songwriter of the Year’ at LA Music Awards