Oscars 2026 winners and highlights: Capture of one of the most exciting night in Hollywood with world watching biggest names come together at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The 98th Academy Awards recognized the best films from the past year, serving up tear-jerking speeches, record-breaking milestones and unforgettable moments on the red carpet.
Hosted by the comedian Conan O’Brien, the ceremony celebrated films released in 2025 across 24 categories.
From big acting awards to technical categories, the event celebrated both the power of storytelling and creativity in filmmaking.
The news owner of the night was without question the sprawling Paul Thomas Anderson film One Battle After Another, which swept through the ceremony collecting awards like they expect to run out taking home Best Picture among other prizes.
The Night’s Biggest Winner
There was no doubt that, at the ceremony, One Battle After Another was the clear standout film. The movie bagged multiple prestigious awards which include:
- Best Picture
- Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson
- Best Adapted Screenplay
- Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn
- Best Film Editing
- Best Casting
The film garnered a total of six Academy Awards, the most for any movie of the evening.
This win represented a major victory for Paul Thomas Anderson, who finally took home his first Academy Award after decades of critical acclaim and nominations.
What Is One Battle After Another About?
One Battle After Another is a political thriller based on Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland. A former revolutionary forced to confront his past in order to protect his daughter from a powerful enemy. It is an action-political drama-emotional movie. Its bold narrative style and strong performances by a talented ensemble cast drew critical praise.
The film had already picked up a number of awards from critics’ groups and international ceremonies ahead of the Oscars, gathering momentum through the awards season. By the time of the Academy Awards, it had emerged as one of the strongest contenders in a number of categories.
Historic First: Best Casting Award
One of the night’s most-discussed moments came attached to the first-ever Academy Award for Best Casting.
Cassandra Kulukundis won it for One Battle After Another.
This category was added to honor the crucial role casting directors serve in making or breaking a film. For decades, casting professionals were behind the scenes with no official recognition from the Academy.
Kulukundis’ victory thus represented a history-making moment for the film world. Her work assembling the film’s powerhouse ensemble cast was celebrated.
Major Acting Winners
The acting categories provided some of the night’s most emotional moments.
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan for Sinners. His acting drew praise for its intensity and emotional depth. It was the first Oscar win of his career.
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley for Hamnet. It was critically acclaimed, and her win was the first for an Irish actress.
Best Supporting Actor: Veteran actor Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his role in One Battle After Another.
Penn’s performance, an enigmatic combination of sunny and melancholic, added a new dimension to the film that helped it get favorably received.
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan received the award for Weapons. Madigan’s victory was especially striking because it came decades after her first Oscar nod.
Record Nominations for Sinners
While One Battle After Another was the big winner at the ceremony, it was the film Sinners that entered the Oscars with the most nominations.
The film earned 16 nominations, then a record at the Academy Awards.
Besides Michael B. Jordan’s Best Actor nod, Sinners also won for cinematography, score and original screenplay. The film’s success was a recognition of the expanding range of storytelling and representation in contemporary cinema.
International and Technical Award Winners
The Oscars also recognized several films from around the world.
- Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value won, making history for Norwegian cinema.
- Best Animated Feature: Best Animated Feature went to the animated film K Pop Demon Hunters The film also took home the Oscar for Best Original Song.
- Best Documentary Feature: Mr. Nobody Against Putin took the prize for documentary.
- Technical Achievements: There were a number of technical categories in which the craftsmanship of filmmaking was apparent:
- Best Sound: F1
- Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Best Production Design: Frankenstein
- Best Costume Design: Frankenstein
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein
These awards honored the creative professionals who help bring cinematic worlds to life behind the scenes.
Red Carpet Highlights
The Oscars are not just about the awards, of course the red carpet is a big draw as well.
Celebrities pulled up in glamorous style, sporting elaborate gowns, chic suits and some daring fashion statements. From the looks of it, designers were duking it out for attention as stars sashayed in front of cameras and greeted fans. Social media was abuzz with reactions to the evening’s hottest outfits. Fashion critics lauded the variety of styles and boldness by many actors.
The red carpet was also a place for celebrities to talk about upcoming projects and express their excitement for the ceremony.
Memorable Speeches and Emotional Moments
The Oscars are the scene of some unforgettable speeches, and the 2026 ceremony was no exception. Many of the winners took their acceptance speeches to thank collaborators, family members and fans. Others tackled bigger social issues, including artistic freedom, diversity in the industry and the power of storytelling. One of the more emotional moments came when the veteran actress Amy Madigan reflected on her long career and how many decades it took before she won her first Oscar.
These emotional speeches also reminded the audiences that filmmaking is a collaborative process involving innumerable creative professionals.
Why the Oscars Still Matter
In an age of streaming services and new ways to consume entertainment, critics debate whether the Oscars have as much clout as they once did. But the 2026 ceremony showed that the Academy Awards still has a role to play in recognizing artistic excellence. Winning an Oscar can change careers, score major international exposure for movies and inspire the next generation of directors.
The awards are also a cultural moment, when millions of people around the world unite to celebrate cinema.
This Is the Future of the Academy Awards
Creating new categories like Best Casting indicates to us that the Academy knows it must keep pace with the film industry. Oscar nods may continue to adapt as techniques change and forms of storytelling emerge.
Future ceremonies might involve categories related to digital filmmaking, virtual production or new cinematic technologies. Additionally, by embracing other forms of craftsmanship, the Academy will help make sure that these awards retain relevance in an entertainment ecosystem dominated by television and streaming.
Conclusion – Oscars 2026 winners and highlights
Oscars 2026 live updates: A night to remember honoring the best in international cinema The 98th Academy Awards were nothing short of a celebration of the amazing talent and creativity in the world of film, from historic wins to heart-wrenching speeches.
With One Battle After Another taking home the main awards, and the addition of a Best Casting category, the ceremony was a real watershed moment for how success in filmmaking should be celebrated.
With the coming bond between viewers and potential future form of film and respected award-oriented season, one thing stays sure; The shimmer of movie theatre remains lovely to audiences everywhere.
