Taylor Swift Gala Performance Intensifies Oscar Best Song Race
Taylor Swift performed her Oscar-contending song at the Academy Museum Gala, attended by key voters, as Netflix-backed Guitarricadelafuente emerges as her main competition.
Taylor Swift performed at the Academy Museum’s gala event and fundraiser on October 18, 2026, sparking immediate awards buzz. She sang 'I Knew It, I Knew You' from 'Toy Story 5,' a song submitted for Oscar Best Song consideration, before dozens of heavy hitter voters from both Oscar and Grammy groups. Conan O'Brien introduced her at the Los Angeles event, which was chaired by Steven Spielberg.
Swift performed four songs in total. Alongside her Oscar hopeful, she sang 'The Fate of Ophelia' from her album 'The Last Showgirl' for Grammy voters. She also delivered renditions of 'Blank Space' and 'Love Story' as fun additions. The Academy posted about the performance on social media that same day, and multiple videos from the night circulated online.
The gala drew a star-studded crowd. Celebrities present included Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Leslie Mann, Judd Apatow, Amanda Seyfried, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, and a couple of Kardashians. Actor Taylor Zakhar Perez was seen singing along to 'Love Story' on his Instagram stories. Accounts suggest Swift likely paid for the performance herself, as the Academy Museum was described as needing funds desperately.
Competition in the Best Song Category
While Swift's high-profile performance positions her as a frontrunner, Guitarricadelafuente's song from Netflix's 'La Bola Negra' is gaining traction as a strong alternative contender. Netflix showed the film at the Middleburg Film Festival on October 17, 2026. The film has passionate support among fans and a new international bloc of members at the Academy. Netflix's reported strategy is to make its films look like contenders so they 'win something.'
Mark Johnson ™️ commented on the Middleburg performance, saying, "Going to think about this Guitarricadelafuente performance for a long time." At the moment, it feels like Taylor Swift and Guitarricadelafuente will go head to head for the Best Song win. If Guitarricadelafuente doesn't win Best Song, some speculate he might be in contention for Supporting Actor. Major animation studios no longer hold the influence they once did, leaving the category open.
The Best Song category remains open with Taylor Swift and Guitarricadelafuente seen as the top two contenders heading into voting.
