With the 2026 Academy Awards approaching, attention is turning to one of the ceremony’s most competitive categories: Best Live Action Short.
According to Variety’s final predictions, the race is shaping up around three titles, with “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “The Singers” and “A Friend of Dorothy” emerging as the key contenders.
Three films highlighted in final predictions
Variety’s latest outlook places the spotlight on these three projects as the main names to watch in the run up to Oscar night. The publication describes the contest as a tight one, suggesting there is no single runaway favourite at this stage.
The three films mentioned in the final predictions are “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” “The Singers” and “A Friend of Dorothy.”
Best Live Action Short remains a closely watched category
The live action short field often draws strong interest because it can feature a wide variety of storytelling styles, themes and creative approaches within a brief runtime. For many viewers, this category is also a chance to discover filmmakers and performers who may later move on to larger projects.
Variety’s final predictions indicate that this year’s shortlist is being closely evaluated, with the competition narrowing toward a three film showdown.
What the update means for Oscar followers
Variety’s predictions serve as one of the widely followed indicators during awards season, helping readers track which titles are gaining traction. This latest update signals that the Best Live Action Short winner may be decided by small margins, given the focus on three frontrunners rather than a single dominant choice.
The report was published by Variety on March 9, 2026, and centres on the final outlook for the category as Oscar season reaches its last stretch.