Oscars allows multiple nominations per actor in same category for 99th ceremony in 2027
Synopsis
The Academy is rewriting its acting playbook for 2027. By allowing actors to secure multiple nominations in the same category, it's closing a loophole that enabled campaign teams to split votes strategically — a practice that sidelined strong performances for over eight decades. The move finally aligns acting with the rest of the ballot and signals a modernizing Academy willing to correct historic inequities.
Key Takeaways
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved new rules for the 99th Academy Awards in 2027 .
Actors can now receive multiple nominations in the same acting category if their performances rank in the top five vote-getters.
The change addresses "category fraud," where campaign teams strategically placed performances in different categories to avoid vote splitting.
Kate Winslet's 2008 awards season — campaigning in lead for 'Revolutionary Road' and supporting for 'The Reader' — is a prominent example of the old rule's impact.
Barry Fitzgerald in 1945 was the only actor to receive nominations for both lead and supporting for the same role; the restriction that followed lasted over 80 years .
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has approved sweeping rule changes for the 99th Academy Awards in 2027, marking a significant overhaul of eligibility, authorship, and global inclusion standards. Among the most consequential updates is a shift in how acting nominations are awarded, permitting performers to receive multiple nominations within the same category if their performances rank among the top five vote-getters.
The New Acting Rule and Its Impact
Under the revised framework, actors can now secure dual nominations in lead or supporting categories — a departure from decades of practice that limited each performance to a single nomination. The change directly addresses what industry observers call "category fraud," wherein campaign teams strategically push one performance into a lower category to avoid vote splitting between an actor's two eligible roles in the same year.
This mechanism had allowed studios to manipulate category placement to maximize nomination chances. The new rule essentially neutralizes that strategy by allowing both performances to be recognized if voter support warrants it.
Historical Precedent: The Kate Winslet Case
A prominent example cited by industry analysts is Kate Winslet's 2008 awards season run. Winslet campaigned in the lead category for 'Revolutionary Road' and in the supporting category for 'The Reader', winning Golden Globes in both. However, when Oscar nominations were announced, 'The Reader' was elevated to lead, and 'Revolutionary Road' was shut out entirely. Winslet ultimately won Best Actress for 'The Reader'. Under the old rules, if both performances ranked in the top five, only the higher vote-getter would be nominated, forcing the other to be excluded.
The Historical Context
The acting nomination rule has roots in the earliest days of the Academy Awards. The last major acting rule change occurred at the 17th Academy Awards in 1945, when Barry Fitzgerald made history by receiving nominations for both lead and supporting actor for the same role — Father Fitzgibbon in 'Going My Way'. Fitzgerald remains the only performer in Oscar history to achieve this distinction. The Academy subsequently instituted restrictions limiting each performance to a single nomination, a rule that stood for over 80 years until now.
What the Change Signals
The 2027 rule revision reflects the Academy's broader effort to modernize its governance and reduce perceived inequities in the nomination process. By aligning acting categories with the rest of the ballot — where multiple nominations in the same category are standard — the Academy is signalling a commitment to transparency and voter intent. Industry observers note that this change could reshape campaign strategies and potentially increase nomination opportunities for actors with multiple eligible performances in a single year.
Point of View
A single rule has allowed studios to game the system — pushing one performance into a lower category to protect another from vote splitting. Kate Winslet's 2008 run is the textbook case: both performances were strong enough to crack the top five, yet only one could be nominated. The new rule doesn't just fix a loophole; it respects voter intent and treats acting like every other category on the ballot. Whether it meaningfully changes outcomes remains to be seen, but as a matter of principle, it's a step toward transparency in an industry that has long prided itself on opacity.
NationPress
3 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new acting rule for the 99th Oscars in 2027?
Actors can now receive multiple nominations in the same acting category (lead or supporting) if their performances rank among the top five vote-getters. Previously, only the highest vote-getter would be nominated, and the other would be excluded.
Why did the Academy make this change?
The change addresses "category fraud," where campaign teams strategically placed an actor's multiple eligible performances in different categories to avoid vote splitting. The new rule allows both performances to be recognized if voter support warrants it, aligning acting categories with the rest of the ballot.
What is the historical precedent for this rule change?
Barry Fitzgerald made history at the 17th Academy Awards in 1945 by receiving nominations for both lead and supporting actor for the same role — Father Fitzgibbon in 'Going My Way.' The Academy subsequently restricted each performance to a single nomination, a rule that lasted over 80 years until now.
How would the new rule have changed Kate Winslet's 2008 awards season?
Winslet campaigned in lead for 'Revolutionary Road' and supporting for 'The Reader,' winning Golden Globes in both. Under the old rules, when 'The Reader' was elevated to lead, 'Revolutionary Road' was shut out. Under the new rule, if both performances ranked in the top five, both could have been nominated.
