Where the Celebrations Really Begin! An Exclusive Look Inside the Oscars Nominees Luncheon

While awards season hype is steadily building towards March 15, the annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon whetted appetites. Held on Tuesday afternoon at the Beverly Hilton, the star-studded gathering offered something rare: a few hours where this year’s contenders could step out of press junket mode, trade congratulations, and take stock of their accomplishments before the final countdown to the ceremony begins.

Emma Stone was among the first to arrive, chatting with guests over welcome drinks before the ballroom filled. Rose Byrne and Kate Hudson followed soon after, easing into conversation like old friends. The atmosphere felt relaxed, celebratory, and perhaps a little surreal, as it often does when the buzziest bold face names of the moment suddenly find themselves sharing tables. Before the luncheon officially kicked off, Stone and Hudson had, what could only be described as a classic girls’ bathroom moment, laughing together away from the cameras—proof that even Oscar nominees sometimes need a quick gossip in the loo.

When Jacob Elordi, fresh from the whirlwind Wuthering Heights world tour, and Teyana Taylor walked in, cameras flocked instantly, turning the duo’s entrance into a real moment. Taylor received a particularly warm welcome from fellow nominees, including Sinners production design nominee Hannah Beachler, who told her, “Thank you for everything. Thank you for being you.”

The afternoon opened with remarks from Lynette Howell Taylor, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Her speech struck a reflective note about the emotional weight of the past year and the role storytelling continues to play. “What a year 2025 was,” she said. “The world broke our hearts, but filmmakers kept finding ways to inspire us, bring us together, and remind us why stories matter. Some films lifted us up, some challenged us, some made us laugh, and some made us confront our history. All of them reflect who we are.” Howell Taylor also highlighted the increasingly global nature of the awards, noting nominees from 29 countries, record voter participation from the Academy’s 11,000-member body, and a historic 76 women nominated this year.

The tone remained supportive yet playful when she pivoted to practical on-the-night advice: Keep speeches under 45 seconds. Avoid thanking everyone individually. Skip phones on stage. And yes, winners do actually have odds. The room laughed knowingly.

Howell Taylor also made a point of thanking the journalists seated among the nominees, acknowledging the role of press coverage in amplifying the arts. One defining feature of the luncheon remains intentional seating. Nominees are grouped with people outside their own films to encourage new connections. It worked. Throughout the meal, guests leaned into conversation, selfies, and the kind of networking that feels less like an obligation, and more like chance circumstance. (How else would Vogue have got to know Pamela Dias, whose daughter Ajike “AJ” Owens is the subject of the Oscar-nominated documentary The Perfect Neighbor? Dias shared that she plans to attend the ceremony next month and expressed gratitude that filmmakers have involved her closely throughout the process.)

Actor, director, and Academy governor Lou Diamond Phillips later took to the stage to shepherd nominees through one of the luncheon’s most anticipated traditions: the annual class photo.
He reminded the room that this gathering celebrates everyone as a winner. Being nominated, he said, means defying enormous odds. Hundreds of films were considered this year, and only a fraction made the cut for nominations across categories. “Embrace every moment,” he told the group. “This recognition is yours forever.” Delroy Lindo kicked off the roll call for the class photo and Teyana Taylor closed it. The resulting group portrait, equal parts chaotic and historic, captured the kind of snapshot that tends to live on long after awards season ends.

Before departing, nominees were reminded to pick up their certificates and to fill out one last prompt printed on notepads at each table: “What movie made you want to be a part of this world?” It was a fitting final note. The luncheon isn’t really about predicting who’ll take home a statuette next month. It’s about reminding everyone how far they’ve come since they started.

This article was originally published on Vogue.com.