Oscars 2026: A Night of Historic Wins and Sweeping Victories
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony unfolded as a spectacular celebration of cinematic achievement, with Paul Thomas Anderson's epic drama One Battle After Another emerging as the undisputed champion of the evening. The film secured a remarkable sweep of the top categories, claiming the coveted Best Picture award alongside Best Director for Anderson, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
Major Acting Honors Celebrate Stellar Performances
In a highly competitive field, Michael B. Jordan triumphed in the Best Actor category for his powerful portrayal in Ryan Coogler's Sinners. Accepting the award, Jordan delivered a moving speech that highlighted the collaborative effort behind the film. Meanwhile, the Best Actress Oscar made history, awarded to Jessie Buckley for her role in Hamnet, marking her as the first Irish performer ever to win in this category.
The supporting actor categories also delivered memorable moments. Sean Penn earned the Best Supporting Actor statuette for his work in One Battle After Another, while veteran actress Amy Madigan claimed Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Weapons.
Technical and Creative Categories Showcase Diverse Excellence
The ceremony highlighted outstanding achievements across all filmmaking disciplines. Sinners celebrated multiple wins, including Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler, Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson, and a groundbreaking victory for cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who became the first woman ever to win the Best Cinematography Oscar.
Frankenstein demonstrated remarkable craftsmanship with wins for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The visual effects team behind Avatar: Fire and Ash continued the franchise's legacy of technical innovation by securing that category's award.
International and Animated Films Receive Recognition
Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value made Norwegian cinematic history by becoming the first film from Norway to win the Best International Feature Film Oscar. The animated category saw KPop Demon Hunters take home Best Animated Feature, while its song Golden also won Best Original Song.
Documentary filmmaking received its due recognition with Mr Nobody Against Putin winning Best Documentary Feature, and All the Empty Rooms claiming Best Documentary Short Film.
A Complete List of Oscar Winners at the 98th Academy Awards
- 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: Sinners (Ryan Coogler)
- Best Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)
- Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value (Norway)
- Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
- Best Documentary Feature: Mr Nobody Against Putin
- Best Original Song: Golden, KPop Demon Hunters
- Best Cinematography: Sinners (Autumn Durald Arkapaw)
- Best Costume Design: Frankenstein (Kate Hawley)
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein
- Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Best Original Score: Sinners (Ludwig Göransson)
- Best Film Editing: One Battle After Another
- Best Sound: F1
- Best Production Design: Frankenstein
- Best Casting: One Battle After Another (Cassandra Kulukundis)
- Best Live Action Short Film: The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva (Joint Winners)
- Best Animated Short Film: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
- Best Documentary Short Film: All the Empty Rooms
The 2026 Oscars will be remembered as a landmark ceremony that celebrated both established masters and groundbreaking newcomers, with One Battle After Another leading a diverse array of films that pushed creative boundaries and expanded representation throughout the industry.
