Ariana Grande Skips 2026 Oscars Following Wicked: For Good Snubs

Following her performance at the 2025 ceremony, Ariana Grande skipped the 98th Academy Awards after Wicked: For Good was excluded from major categories.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 11:40 AM EDT

Source: BAZAAR

A Sharp Turn from 2025 Success

The absence is a significant contrast to last year, where Grande was a focal point of the telecast. At the 2025 Oscars, she famously wore a voluminous baby-pink Schiaparelli gown and took to the stage with co-star Cynthia Erivo to perform a medley of hits from the first film. This year, however, Grande opted to skip the event entirely after the sequel failed to garner nominations in her eligible categories, including Best Original Song.

Original Song Snubs and Competition

Two new original tracks written for the second film, “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble,” were both excluded from the Best Original Song lineup. The Academy instead favored tracks like “Golden” from the animated KPop Demon Hunters and “I Lied To You” from the historical heavyweight Sinners. The latter film dominated the evening's conversation, making history with a staggering 16 nominations.

The "Repetition" Factor in Technical Categories

Industry insiders suggest that while the first Wicked was a technical marvel that earned 10 nominations and a Best Costume Design win for Paul Tazewell, the second part suffered from a sense of diminishing returns. Voters reportedly felt the production design and costuming in Wicked: For Good did not offer enough "new" creative ground to warrant a second consecutive round of accolades, leading to a sweep of snubs in categories where the franchise previously excelled.