Jaafar Jackson, Inde Navarrette and Ray Nicholson Among Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch for 2026

By Clayton Davis

Clayton Davis

Chief Awards Editor

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Variety has unveiled its 2026 class of 10 Actors to Watch.

Since 1998, the franchise has singled out breakout performers on the cusp of the industry’s front ranks and the track record speaks for itself. Past honorees include more than 35 Oscar winners and nominees, among them Mahershala Ali, Timothée Chalamet and Brie Larson.

Last year’s 2025 class already made good on their honors. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas landed a supporting actress Oscar nomination for the Norwegian familial drama “Sentimental Value.” Chase Infiniti followed “One Battle After Another” with an Emmy nomination for lead drama actress this year for Hulu’s “The Testaments,” while Miles Caton broke through as both performer and songwriter in Ryan Coogler’s horror smash “Sinners.”

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