The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by the hilarious Conan O’Brien at the Dolby Theatre, was a night of long-awaited triumphs and historic milestones. The 2026 ceremony was defined by a massive "all-Warner Bros. showdown" between the record-breaking blockbuster Sinners and the political epic One Battle After Another.
Here is the breakdown of the top winners and the most fascinating facts from Hollywood’s biggest night.
Best Picture
Interesting Facts: This sweeping, multi-generational political saga proved that "adult dramas" are back in a big way. Despite Sinners entering the night with a record-shattering 16 nominations, One Battle After Another was the night's biggest winner, taking home 6 Oscars in total. It is the first film centered on political resistance to win the top prize in over a decade.
Best Director
Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Interesting Facts: After three decades and 14 previous nominations without a win, this was the "coronation" of Paul Thomas Anderson. The audience gave him a massive standing ovation as he finally moved from "greatest living director without an Oscar" to Academy Award winner. He also took home Best Adapted Screenplay on the same night.
Best Actor
Winner: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Interesting Facts: Michael B. Jordan secured his first-ever Oscar in one of the tightest races in history, beating out early favorite Timothée Chalamet. In his emotional speech, Jordan gave a shoutout to his co-star Hailee Steinfeld and noted that "Good is good," celebrating his journey from a young actor on The Wire to the pinnacle of Hollywood.
Best Actress
Winner: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Interesting Facts: Playing Agnes Shakespeare, Jessie Buckley made history as the first Irish woman to ever win the Best Actress Oscar. She was considered the overwhelming favorite throughout the awards season and dedicated her win to "the beautiful chaos of a mother's heart," as the ceremony fell on Mother's Day in her home country.
Best Supporting Actor
Winner: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
Interesting Facts: With this win, Sean Penn joined an elite club, becoming only the fourth male actor in history to win three acting Oscars (joining Daniel Day-Lewis, Jack Nicholson, and Walter Brennan). Penn was notably absent from the ceremony, as he was reportedly in Ukraine continuing his documentary work.
Best Supporting Actress
Winner: Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Interesting Facts: At 75 years old, Amy Madigan’s win was a "full-circle" moment—coming exactly 40 years after her first nomination in 1986. Her victory for the horror-thriller Weapons was a rare win for the genre, and she charmed the crowd by letting out a giant laugh the moment she stepped onto the stage.
Full List of 2026 Oscar Winners
Best Original Screenplay: Sinners – Ryan Coogler
Best Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters
Best International Feature: Sentimental Value (Norway)
Best Documentary Feature: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Best Cinematography: Sinners – Autumn Durald Arkapaw (First female winner in history!)
Best Original Score: Sinners – Ludwig Göransson
Best Original Song: "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters (First K-Pop winner!)
Best Casting: One Battle After Another – Cassandra Kulukundis (Inaugural winner)
Best Production Design: Frankenstein
Best Costume Design: Frankenstein
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Frankenstein
Best Film Editing: One Battle After Another
Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash
Best Sound: F1
Best Live Action Short: The Singers & Two People Exchanging Saliva (Rare Tie!)
Best Animated Short: The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Best Documentary Short: All the Empty Rooms
Closing Note: A New Era for Cinema
The 2026 Oscars proved that the magic of the movies is more diverse and daring than ever before. From the first-ever Best Casting award to the historic breakthrough in Cinematography, the Academy showed a willingness to honor both technical perfection and emotional depth. Whether you were cheering for the gothic beauty of Frankenstein or the rhythmic energy of KPop Demon Hunters, this year’s list of winners reminds us why we keep returning to the dark of the theater: to be moved, to be challenged, and to be inspired.
What was your favorite moment of the night? Let us know in the comments below!
