Academy Award for Best Original Song

United States • Los AngelesFounded 1934

An annual Oscar category presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1934. Awards songwriters of the best original song written specifically for a film. Five nominees are selected from a shortlist of 15 songs.

Details

Organizing Body

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)

Type

Industry Awards

Frequency

Annual

Processes

Nomination Process

Songs must be written specifically for a film eligible for Oscar consideration. The film must be submitted to AMPAS General Entry. Academy members who are songwriters and composers vote to create a 15-song shortlist, then narrow it to 5 nominees. Hundreds of songs are submitted each year.

Voting Process

The full Academy membership (approximately 10,000 members across all branches) votes on the final 5 nominees to determine the winner.

The Academy Award for Best Original Song is an annual Oscar category presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since 1934. It recognizes songwriters of the best original song written specifically for a film. The award is best suited for songwriters and composers who create music for cinema, not standalone releases. The 2026 winner was "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters, the first K-pop song to win an Oscar.

Submission and Eligibility Details

The category was introduced at the 7th Academy Awards in 1934. Con Conrad won the inaugural award for "The Continental" from The Gay Divorcee. Only songs written specifically for a film qualify. Pre-existing songs licensed for film use are not eligible. The film must be submitted to AMPAS General Entry as a feature-length narrative or documentary. Short films do not qualify for music categories.

The submission and voting process works in stages:

Academy members who are songwriters and composers vote to create a 15-song shortlist from hundreds of submissions
The same group narrows the shortlist to 5 final nominees
The full Academy membership (approximately 10,000 members across all branches) votes on the winner
A maximum of two statuettes are normally given (one for the composer, one for the lyricist)
A third statuette may be awarded when three writers contributed equally
Performers are not credited unless they contributed to the music, lyrics, or both

The 2026 ceremony (the 98th Oscars) took place on March 15, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters won with seven credited writers (EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park). It was the first song with more than four writers to win in this category. The other 2026 nominees were "Dear Me" from Diane Warren: Relentless (Diane Warren), "I Lied to You" from Sinners (Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Goransson), "Sweet Dreams of Joy" from Viva Verdi! (Nicholas Pike), and "Train Dreams" from Train Dreams (Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner).

Key Benefits for Artists

Career transformation: Winning an Oscar for Best Original Song can change a songwriter's career overnight. The global television audience for the Academy Awards exceeds 20 million US viewers.
Industry credibility: An Oscar win leads to film scoring contracts, publishing deals, and higher sync licensing fees. Ludwig Goransson, who won for "I Lied to You" from Sinners in 2026 (Original Score category), has built a career on Oscar recognition.
Shortlist exposure: The 15-song shortlist provides exposure even without a nomination. Making the shortlist signals industry recognition.
Dual exposure: Songwriters who perform their own nominated songs gain visibility as both writers and artists during the Oscar broadcast.
Historical significance: The category has produced 90+ winners since 1934. Past winners include "Over the Rainbow" (1939), "Moon River" (1961), "Lose Yourself" (2002), and "Let It Go" (2014).

Potential Drawbacks and Things to Consider

Film requirement only: Songs must be written specifically for a qualifying film. Standalone releases are not eligible. This limits access for songwriters who do not work in film.
Extremely competitive: Hundreds of submissions are narrowed to 15, then 5. The final winner is decided by the full Academy membership, meaning voters who are not music specialists influence the outcome.
Campaign costs: Securing a nomination requires significant resources. Film studios typically handle Oscar campaigning. Independent artists without studio backing face disadvantages in visibility.
Arrangement changes: The ceremony's performance slot may require changes to the song's arrangement to fit the broadcast format.
Writer credit limits: The rules around multiple writer credits have evolved. The 2026 winner had seven credited writers, but all did not receive individual trophies due to rule changes.