New Delhi, March 16, 2026: The 98th Academy Awards, held on March 15, 2026, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, proved to be a historic night for cinema. Hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, the ceremony was a masterclass in balancing high-stakes competition with emotional tributes. While the nomination list was led by Ryan Coogler’s Sinners with a record-breaking 16 nods, the night ultimately belonged to Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller, One Battle After Another.
Major Winners: A Night of Firsts and Favorites
The evening’s top honor, Best Picture, went to One Battle After Another. The film was the biggest winner of the night, securing a total of six statuettes. Paul Thomas Anderson also took home the Oscar for Best Director, dedicating his win to his late collaborator Adam Somner.
The acting categories delivered some of the most moving moments of the broadcast:
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan won his first Academy Award for his dual role as twins in the vampire drama Sinners. In a powerful speech, he thanked director Ryan Coogler and acknowledged his father, who traveled from Ghana to witness the milestone.
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley claimed the trophy for her heart-wrenching performance as Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet. She celebrated her victory by thanking her “Irish family” and her eight-month-old daughter, Isla.
- Supporting Roles: Veteran actor Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, while Amy Madigan took home Best Supporting Actress for her role in Weapons.
Historic Milestones and Surprises
The 98th Oscars will be remembered for several groundbreaking achievements that shifted the landscape of the Academy:
- A Historic Win for Women in Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman—and the first woman of color—to win Best Cinematography for her work on Sinners. During her speech, she asked all the women in the room to stand, inspiring a new generation of female filmmakers.
- The Rare Tie: In a shocking turn of events, the Best Live Action Short Film category ended in a tie between The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva. This marks only the seventh tie in the history of the Oscars.
- Inaugural Casting Award: For the first time since 2001, the Academy introduced a new category. The first-ever Oscar for Achievement in Casting was awarded to Cassandra Kulukundis for One Battle After Another.
- K-Pop at the Oscars: The infectious track “Golden” from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters won Best Original Song, following a high-energy live performance by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami.
Emotional Highlights and “In Memoriam”
The ceremony featured a poignant “In Memoriam” segment, with Barbra Streisand returning to the stage to perform “The Way We Were” in honor of Robert Redford. The tribute also recognized industry legends such as Diane Keaton, Rob Reiner, and Robert Duvall. In a thoughtful nod to global cinema, the Academy’s digital gallery included tributes to Indian film icons Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, B. Saroja Devi, and Kota Srinivasa Rao.
Full Results Summary
| Category | Winner | Film |
| Best Picture | — | One Battle After Another |
| 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 |
| Best Supporting Actress | Amy Madigan | Weapons |
| Best Original Screenplay | Ryan Coogler | Sinners |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson | One Battle After Another |
| Best Animated Feature | — | KPop Demon Hunters |
| Best International Feature | — | Sentimental Value (Norway) |
| Best Cinematography | Autumn Durald Arkapaw | Sinners |
| Best Film Editing | Andy Jurgensen | One Battle After Another |
The 2026 Oscars successfully celebrated a year of diverse storytelling, proving that while “frontrunners” exist, the Academy still has the power to surprise and make history.