The Oscars are just weeks away and prediction markets are shifting as buyers put their money on the names they think are destined for success.
In March, we’ll see whether the wisdom of the crowd has proven more accurate than that of the industry’s top pundits once again. But until then, we’re here to share our top tips and best value picks for the 98th Academy Awards.
Key Takeaways:
- How to find the best value picks ahead of awards season
- Common pitfalls to avoid when navigating Oscars prediction markets
- Explaining the strategic no and when to use it
How Oscars prediction markets work
To master the Oscars prediction markets, you need to understand that you aren't just betting, you’re trading.
On platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, Oscars categories are structured as event contracts.
Unlike a traditional sportsbook where you bet against the house, prediction markets are peer-to-peer exchanges. That means you’re buying and selling shares from other people who have different opinions on who will win.
What is a Prediction Market?
A prediction market is a financial exchange where people trade the outcome of future events. It’s sort of like a stock market for reality. Instead of buying shares in Apple or Tesla, you buy shares in "Timothée Chalamet winning Best Actor."
The collective price of these shares acts as a crowdsourced forecast. If a 'Yes' is expensive, the crowd is confident. If it’s cheap, the crowd is skeptical.
How prediction market pricing works: Cents = Percentage
The most important rule in event contracts is that price = probability.
Each contract is binary (Yes/No) and always settles at 100¢ ($1.00) if the event happens and 0¢ ($0.00) if it doesn't. Because of this cap, the current trading price tells you the exact percentage chance the market gives that outcome.
- A 65¢ Yes means the market thinks there is a 65% chance that person wins.
- A 10¢ Yes means the market thinks they are a longshot with only a 10% chance
Current frontrunners
Finding the best value picks of the 98th Academy Awards
Oscars prediction markets are about more than who’s going to win an award. To find real value in Oscars picks, what you need to do is ascertain where markets may have overreacted to recent news. The pricing gaps we’ve seen emerge as result of Golden Globe wins is a prime example.
Chalamet took a Golden Globe, as did Paul Thomas Anderson. And as a result their markets went into overdrive, sending ‘yes’ prices through the roof. For more on this, check out our guide to the top movers on the Oscars prediction markets.
A Golden Globe win is far from a sure-fire predictor of Oscars success, though, given the fact that the Golden Globes separates acting awards into different categories, where the Oscars doesn’t.
Here’s how to spot value amongst the enormous number of Oscars prediction markets available right now.
Find value in split awards
Markets often assume a Best Picture winner will also sweep the acting categories, but that’s not always the case.
Right now, One Battle After Another is a heavy favorite for Best Picture. And that’s led to Leonardo DiCaprio’s price remaining high, with many assuming he’ll also win as a result of the film’s popularity.
Strategy: If you think the Academy will split the awards (as they often do), look for the lead actor in the second most popular film.
The Strategic No
On platforms like Kalshi or Polymarket, you also have the option to bet against candidates, and in many cases this is where the best value picks can be found.
Strategy: When a frontrunner like Jessie Buckley reaches chance ratings of over 90% probability), the 'Yes' side has almost no ROI. But the 'No' side is essentially a bet on anyone else winning.
If you believe there is even a 15% chance of a late-season upset (e.g., Rose Byrne), buying the 'No' on a favorite can be a smart decision.
For the latest on value picks available right now, take a look at these three top value picks, compiled by our experts.
Four things you need to know before buying Oscars contracts
Betting on the Oscars via prediction markets like Kalshi or Polymarket is fundamentally different from using a sportsbook.
With prediction markets, you aren't betting against the house; you are trading contracts with other people. Here are four things you need to know to navigate these markets effectively.
1. It's all about the binary mechanic
In a prediction market, every contract settles at either $1.00 (if the event happens) or $0.00 (if it doesn’t).
- The Price is the Probability: If One Battle After Another is trading at 78¢, the market believes there is a 78% chance it wins Best Picture.
- Profit = Difference: If you buy at 78¢ and it wins, you make 22¢ profit per share. If you sell when the price hits 90¢ (before the ceremony), you make 12¢ profit without any risk on the final result.
2. The precursor calendar is key
Oscar prices don't move randomly; they react to specific events. To find the best value, you’ll need to trade before these key dates:
- Jan 22, 2026 (Oscar Nominations): Prices for locks will skyrocket. But value can be found in movies that might sneak in.
- Feb 22, 2026 (BAFTAs): Often indicates if the International wing of the Academy is moving toward a specific film (e.g., Hamnet or The Secret Agent).
- Mar 1, 2026 (Actor Awards): This is the most important night for acting categories. The Screen Actors Guild shares the most voters with the Academy. A surprise win here will instantly normalize the Oscar market.
3. Sentiment and fan bias can skew prices
Unlike sports, Oscar markets can often be skewed by sentiment. And that’s something you need to watch out for.
- Fan Favorites: Popular movies (like Sinners or Marty Supreme) often trade at higher prices than their actual win probability purely because fans want them to win. In cases like these, there’s often more value in betting 'No'.
- The Sweep Effect: When a movie is a heavy favorite for Best Picture (like One Battle…), the acting and technical categories often lag behind. If the movie is truly that dominant, buying its lead actors at lower prices can sometimes be the best value play.
4. There are some common market traps
Watch out for common traps before you make your choices! These are three of the key issues you'll need to be aware of.
- Low Liquidity: In smaller categories (Best Sound, Best Film Editing), there won’t be as many traders. This means there’s the possibility that you might not be able to sell a contract if you do want to exit early.
- Frontrunner Fatigue: In long Oscar seasons, the September favorite can be old news by February. Markets tend to overreact to early festival buzz (Venice/Telluride), which is why the price of early leaders can drop as the ceremony approaches.
- Arbitrage: Check both Kalshi and Polymarket. Because they are different pools of traders, you might find Hamnet at 15¢ on one and 20¢ on the other.
Choosing an Oscar winner: The precursors
Prediction markets shift in reaction to both supply and demand and any breaking news that might affect the likelihood of a yes or no answer. Traders are financially incentivized to guess correctly, which means we tend to see prices change incredibly quickly.
One of the key driving forces behind change in prediction market pricing in the run-up to an event like the Academy Awards, is events that are seen as precursors.
We see rapid movement in prediction markets immediately after the winners of the Golden Globes are revealed, for example. We also tend to see significant shifts in pricing following the Actor Awards and the BAFTAs. A win at the Actor Awards in particular can send ‘yes’ prices through the roof.
The Academy is always tight-lipped about its preferred movies, so traders rely on these smaller, earlier voting bodies to gauge sentiment.
When a film like One Battle After Another sweeps the Golden Globes, it isn’t just a trophy win. It’s a signal that the film has the kind of support required to navigate the Academy's complex voting system.
Not all precursors are created equal, though. And that’s why traders will often choose to buy Oscars contracts based on the membership overlap between the precursor voting body and the Academy.
- The Golden Globes: A win at the Globes has a significant effect on Oscar prediction markets, but these awards elevate several winners as they’re categorized, where the Oscars aren’t. This can make it difficult to predict which winner the Academy will ultimately prefer.
- The Actor Awards: Since the acting branch is the largest in the Academy, the Actor Awards are the ultimate buy signal. A win here doesn't just increase a candidate's chance; it often creates a pricing floor where their Kalshi shares will rarely dip below 70¢.
- The DGA & PGA (Director/Producer Guilds): These are the pro-level signals. The Producers Guild (PGA) uses the same preferential ballot as the Oscars for Best Picture, making it the best indicator for the biggest prize.
- The BAFTAs: There is overlap between British Academy members and the Oscar’s international voting bloc, so a BAFTA win can signal that an underdog is capable of causing an upset.
Legal & platform guide: Kalshi vs. Polymarket
Kalshi and Polymarket work in a similar way. The platforms both offer binary ‘yes’ or ‘no’ options, and you’ll find many of the same markets available on each of them. But there are some marked differences between the two.
Here’s the top-line info to be aware of before making your choice.
| Kalshi | Polymarket | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Status | Fully CFTC-regulated (U.S. based) | Regulated via QCEX acquisition (Relaunched Dec 2025) |
| Currency | USD | USDC |
| Funding | Bank ACH, Wire, Debit Card | Crypto Wallet (Polygon/Ethereum) |
| Fees | Small trading fees (up to $1.75) | Generally 0% (except 15-min crypto markets) |
| Primary Edge | Economic & Fed data, high trust | Culture, tech and high-volume politics |
Kalshi
Kalshi is a U.S. company that operates like a traditional stock exchange. It is the best fit for users who want to avoid crypto and prioritize legal protections.
- Regulatory Armor: As a Designated Contract Market (DCM), it has federal oversight that protects against fraud and ensures market integrity.
- Institutional Integration: You can often find Kalshi's data and trading tools integrated into mainstream apps like Robinhood.
- The "Niche" Strength: Kalshi excels in macroeconomics. You can trade on things like the CPI inflation rate, the next Fed interest rate hike, or specific New York City weather events.
Polymarket
Polymarket had been barred from the U.S. for years, but it returned in late 2025 by acquiring a licensed exchange (QCEX). It’s the go-to option for those who prefer to use blockchain technology.
- High Liquidity: Because it has a massive global user base, the "spreads" (the gap between buy and sell prices) are often tighter, so it’s cheaper to trade large amounts on Polymarket.
- Speed to Market: Polymarket is famous for launching markets within minutes of a news breaking event (e.g., a sudden tech CEO firing or a celebrity scandal).
- Fee Structure: While it recently introduced small fees for short-term 15-minute crypto price betting, most of Polymarket’s core event markets remain free to trade.
FAQs
Which precursor award should I trust most for my trades?
Traders often debate which awards show provides the most accurate signal to buy or sell shares before the market overcorrects.
For acting and directing, the Actor Awards and DGA (Directors Guild) are the gold standards because their voting bodies overlap directly with the Academy.
The Golden Globes (January 11) provide momentum and narrative, but the PGA (Producers Guild) is the most accurate predictor for Best Picture. If you see a discrepancy where an Actor Award winner is still trading at a low price on Kalshi, that is your strongest buy signal.
How can I use no contracts to hedge a risky favorite?
You can treat 'No' contracts like insurance. If you hold a large 'Yes' position on Timothée Chalamet (78¢), you can buy a small amount of 'No' shares on him or 'Yes' shares on his closest rival (Wagner Moura).
If Chalamet loses, your 'No' or rival shares pay out $1.00, recouping your losses from your main bet. This "balanced book" strategy allows you to profit as long as the race remains competitive.
Is it legal to trade Oscars contracts on Kalshi?
Yes, it’s legal to trade these contracts on Kalshi. The only exceptions to the rule are those with insider information, for example those who work for the Academy or have early access to the winners for any reason.
What is the difference between a sportsbook and a prediction market?
A sportsbook is a business, where players bet against the house. Odds are fixed by oddsmakers to ensure that the company makes a profit.
A prediction market, by contrast, allows people to buy and sell contracts with others. Prices are determined by supply and demand.
How do I cash out on Kalshi?
If you’re ready to cash out, you just need to find the transfers tab on the Kalshi app or website. Here you’ll see a withdraw from Kalshi option. Click this and you’ll be able to send your balance to a bank account or debit card.
