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2026 Oscars Highlights: Winners, Best Moments & More

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The 98th Academy Awards: A Night of Rivalries, Tributes, and Historic Wins

On the red carpet of the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Trae Patton / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.
Gracie Abrams arrives on the red carpet of the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.

The 2026 Oscars (98th Academy Awards) lit up Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre on March 15, honoring the best films of 2025. Hosted once again by Conan O’Brien, the ceremony balanced sharp comedy with heartfelt tributes, creating a night that was both celebratory and reflective.

Priyanka Chopra arrives on the red carpet of the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.

🌟 Presenters Who Stole the Spotlight

The evening’s presenters brought both nostalgia and humor:

  • Nicole Kidman & Ewan McGregor reunited for a Moulin Rouge! 25th anniversary nod while presenting Best Picture.
  • Anne Hathaway & Anna Wintour recreated a meta Devil Wears Prada moment that had the audience roaring.
  • A mix of Hollywood icons and fresh faces graced the stage: Jimmy Kimmel, Rose Byrne, Sigourney Weaver, Pedro Pascal, Channing Tatum, Robert Downey Jr., Zoe Saldaña, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Javier Bardem, and more.
  • Red carpet correspondent Amelia Dimoldenberg kept the social media buzz alive with her signature wit.
Jessie Buckley and Michael B. Jordan pose backstage with the Oscar for Actress in a Leading Role and the Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role during the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.

🎭 Attendees and Absences

The Dolby Theatre was packed with Hollywood’s finest:

  • Nominees and winners like Michael B. Jordan, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, and Jessie Buckley made the night electric.
  • The Vanity Fair after-party drew stars including Ciara, while notable absences—Sean Penn (who won but didn’t attend) and Taylor Swift (skipping again)—sparked chatter.
Michael B. Jordan poses backstage with the Oscar for Actor in a Leading Role during the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.
Maggie Kang poses backstage with the Oscar for Animated Feature Film during the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.
(L-R) Jack Piatt and Sam A. Davis backstage during the live 98th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Andy Jurgensen poses backstage with the Oscar® for Film Editing during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.

🏆 Key Winners

The night was dominated by Warner Bros., with two films leading the charge:

  • Best Picture: One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)
  • Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
  • Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
  • Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
  • Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another) — accepted in absentia
  • Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
  • Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners) — first woman ever to win this category
  • Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler (Sinners)

Other highlights:

  • Sinners also won Original Score (Ludwig Göransson) and more.
  • Frankenstein took home three technical awards.
  • KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature.
  • The inaugural Best Casting award went to One Battle After Another.
ZHUN, EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, and NHD pose backstage with the Oscar for Original Song during the live ABC Telecast of the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.
Anders Danielsen Lie arrives on the red carpet of the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Phil McCarten / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.

✨ Highlights and Historic Moments

  • Rivalries: The duel between Anderson’s epic One Battle After Another and Coogler’s genre-bending Sinners defined the night.
  • History Made: Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s groundbreaking cinematography win marked a milestone for women in film.
  • Tributes: The In Memoriam segment honored legends like Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton, Catherine O’Hara, and Robert Redford, with Barbra Streisand delivering a moving rendition of The Way We Were.
  • Comedy & Skits: Conan O’Brien’s biting humor and film spoofs kept the energy high. Anne Hathaway’s Prada gag and group presentations by Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, and Rose Byrne added levity.
  • Red Carpet Vibes: Glamorous arrivals and the sold-out Academy Museum watch party (complete with Wolfgang Puck catering) set the tone for a night of celebration.
Chase Infiniti arrives on the red carpet of the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Etienne Laurent / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.

🎬 Final Takeaway

The 2026 Oscars celebrated a year of bold storytelling, historic achievements, and unforgettable performances. With Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler leading the charge, and Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley delivering career-defining wins, the ceremony underscored Hollywood’s evolving landscape—where tradition meets innovation, and history is made onstage.

Ariana Greenblatt arrives on the red carpet of the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Image Provided by Phil McCarten / The Academy. Copyright © A.M.P.A.S.

COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINEES AND WINNERS

Best picture

  • Bugonia
  • Frankenstein
  • F1
  • Hamnet
  • Marty Supreme
  • One Battle After Another — WINNER
  • The Secret Agent
  • Sentimental Value
  • Sinners
  • Train Dreams

Best actor

  • Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
  • Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
  • Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
  • Michael B Jordan – Sinners — WINNER
  • Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

Best actress

  • Jessie Buckley – Hamnet — WINNER
  • Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
  • Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
  • Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
  • Emma Stone – Bugonia

Best supporting actress

  • Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
  • Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
  • Amy Madigan – Weapons — WINNER
  • Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
  • Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

Best supporting actor

  • Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
  • Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
  • Delroy Lindo – Sinners
  • Sean Penn – One Battle After Another — WINNER
  • Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value

Best director

  • Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another — WINNER
  • Ryan Coogler – Sinners
  • Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
  • Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
  • Chloé Zhao – Hamnet

Best adapted screenplay

  • Bugonia
  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • One Battle After Another — WINNER
  • Train Dreams

Best original screenplay

  • Blue Moon
  • It Was Just an Accident
  • Marty Supreme
  • Sentimental Value
  • Sinners — WINNER

Best original song

  • Dear Me – Diane Warren: Relentless
  • Golden – KPop Demon Hunters — WINNER
  • I Lied to You – Sinners
  • Sweet Dreams of Joy – Viva Verdi!
  • Train Dreams – Train Dreams

Best original score

  • Bugonia
  • Frankenstein
  • Hamnet
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners — WINNER

Best international feature film

  • It Was Just an Accident
  • Sentimental Value — WINNER
  • Sirât
  • The Secret Agent
  • The Voice of Hind Rajab

Best animated feature

  • Arco
  • Elio
  • KPop Demon Hunters — WINNER
  • Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
  • Zootopia 2

Best documentary feature

  • Come See Me in the Good Light
  • Cutting Through the Rocks
  • Mr. Nobody Against Putin — WINNER
  • The Alabama Solution
  • The Perfect Neighbor

Best costume design

  • Avatar: Fire and Ash
  • Frankenstein — WINNER
  • Hamnet
  • Marty Supreme
  • Sinners

Best make-up and hairstyling

  • Frankenstein — WINNER
  • Kokuho
  • Sinners
  • The Smashing Machine
  • The Ugly Stepsister

Best production design

  • Frankenstein — WINNER
  • Hamnet
  • Marty Supreme
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners

Best sound

  • Frankenstein
  • F1 — WINNER
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners
  • Sirât

Best film editing

  • F1
  • Marty Supreme
  • One Battle After Another — WINNER
  • Sentimental Value
  • Sinners

Best cinematography

  • Frankenstein
  • Marty Supreme
  • One Battle After Another
  • Sinners — WINNER
  • Train Dreams

Best visual effects

  • Avatar: Fire and Ash — WINNER
  • F1
  • Jurassic World Rebirth
  • Sinners
  • The Lost Bus

Best live action short

  • A Friend of Dorothy
  • Butcher’s Stain
  • Jane Austin’s Period Drama
  • The Singers — WINNER (TIE)
  • Two People Exchanging Saliva — WINNER (TIE)

Best animated short

  • Butterfly
  • Forevergreen
  • Retirement Plan
  • The Girl Who Cried Pearls — WINNER
  • The Three Sisters

Best documentary short

  • All the Empty Rooms — WINNER
  • Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
  • Children No More: Were and Are Gone
  • The Devil Is Busy
  • Perfectly a Strangeness

Best casting

  • Hamnet
  • Marty Supreme
  • One Battle After Another — WINNER
  • Sinners
  • The Secret Agent