The world’s most prestigious film award, the “Oscar,” will introduce a new category in 2026. The BBC reported this.

It is noted that in recent years, casting directors have gained recognition alongside other film industry professionals such as sound engineers, costume designers, and makeup artists.

The campaign to add the “Best Casting” nomination has been ongoing for several years. According to an AFP statement, stunt performers are also lobbying to be considered for their own “Oscar” award, but there has been no result so far.

Additionally, the reason for including casting directors in the nomination is that they play a key role in the film creation process – they are responsible for selecting actors and hiring both A-list and supporting players.

In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang said: “Casting directors play a crucial role in filmmaking, and as the Academy continues to evolve, we are proud to add casting to the disciplines we recognize and celebrate.”

It is not yet clear whether the “Best Casting” award will be presented during the ceremony. Currently, all 23 awards are presented live during the gala show.

The last time a new category was added to the Oscars was in 2002 with the introduction of the “Best Animated Feature Film” nomination.

As a reminder, the date for the next Oscars ceremony has already been announced.