2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards: ‘Peter Hujar’s Day’ Leads the Pack

If you’ve been following the breathless, caffeine-fueled marathon that is the 2026 awards season, you know the drill. We obsess over the Golden Globes, we fight about the Critics’ Choice, and we bite our nails waiting for the Academy to make up its mind. But the Film Independent Spirit Awards? They’ve always been the cool younger sibling of the awards circuit—the one who wears vintage leather jackets, smokes cloves behind the gym, and actually cares about the art rather than the box office receipts.

The nominations dropped this Wednesday, and if there is one takeaway, it’s that the indie spirit is alive, well, and seemingly obsessed with Ira Sachs.

Here is your deep dive into the 2026 nominations, the snubs, the surprises, and why Keke Palmer and SZA might just be the duo we didn’t know we needed.

Who are the Film Categories?

Leading the charge at the Spirit Awards this year is “Peter Hujar’s Day,” director Ira Sachs’ latest intimate exploration of human connection. The film absolutely cleaned up, snagging five nominations total. We’re talking Best Feature, Best Director for Sachs, and acting nods for the always-brilliant Rebecca Hall and Ben Whishaw.

Whishaw, by the way, is having a very good week. He didn’t just get love for the big screen; he also picked up a supporting nod on the TV side for the Netflix series “Black Doves”. It’s rare to see an actor straddle both mediums so effortlessly in the same awards cycle, but if anyone can do it, it’s him.

But let’s talk about the fun stuff. The buddy comedy “One of Them Days” is proving that “indie” doesn’t have to mean “depressing.” Produced by Issa Rae, this film secured nominations for both Keke Palmer and Grammy-winning songstress SZA. Yes, SZA acts now, and apparently, she’s fantastic at it. The film also grabbed a Best First Feature nod, proving that sometimes the fresh voices are the loudest.

The Television Takeover: A Three-Way Tie

The Indie Spirit Awards started honoring television a few years back, acknowledging that some of the best storytelling was happening in our living rooms. This year, the competition is fierce.

We have a three-way deadlock for the top spot. “Adolescence”, “Forever”, and “Mr. Loverman” each walked away with four nominations.

“Adolescence” has been a heavy hitter on Netflix, and it’s great to see Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty getting recognized. Meanwhile, “The Pitt” brought Noah Wyle back to our screens, earning him a Lead Performance nomination. It’s a bit of a nostalgia trip seeing Wyle in the mix, and frankly, I’m here for it.

And we can’t ignore the comedy heavyweights. Seth Rogen scored a nod for “The Studio”, and Ethan Hawke is in the running for “The Lowdown”. It’s a crowded field for the Spirit Awards, and honestly, picking a winner here feels like splitting hairs.

The Budget Cap: Why Your Favorite Blockbuster Isn’t Here

Every year, without fail, Twitter (or X, or whatever we’re calling it this week) erupts with anger because a massive movie got “snubbed” by the Spirit Awards. So, let’s clear the air before the angry tweets start flying.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards have a budget cap. If your movie costs more than $30 million to make, you aren’t getting invited to the party.

That is why you don’t see “Wicked: For Good” or “One Battle After Another” on this list. It’s not that the voters didn’t like them; it’s that the catering budget on Wicked probably cost more than the entire production of “Peter Hujar’s Day”. Titles like “Frankenstein” and “Sinners” also missed the cut for the same reason. This show is designed to highlight the scrappy underdogs, not the studio tentpoles.

However, keep an eye on the crossover hits. Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” and Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams) are nominated here and are very much in the Oscar conversation. History tells us there is overlap—”Nomadland”, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, and “Anora” all won the Spirit Awards before taking home the Oscar for Best Picture.

The University Connection

In a fun bit of trivia for the film school nerds out there, NYU Tisch alumni had a field day this year. Nine alumni snagged nominations, including Mary Bronstein for directing “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” and Ben Wang, who is part of the ensemble cast for “The Long Walk”. It’s a nice reminder that before these folks are walking red carpets, they’re usually stressing out over student films in a basement somewhere.

Mark Your Calendars

The winners will be revealed on Sunday, February 15, 2026. If the ceremony holds true to form, expect a relaxed, slightly chaotic, and booze-filled afternoon by the beach. It’s the one awards show where the speeches feel genuine, the celebrities actually eat the food, and the winners are often the movies you’ve been meaning to watch all year.

Get your popcorn ready. It’s going to be a good one.