The Oscars 2026, officially the 98th Academy Awards, celebrated the best films and performances of the year in a star-studded ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, the event brought together the biggest names in global cinema and honoured the finest achievements in filmmaking.

This year’s ceremony was dominated by the political satire thriller “One Battle After Another,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film emerged as the biggest winner of the night, securing six Academy Awards, including the prestigious Best Picture and Best Director awards.

Alongside it, the film “Sinners” also had a strong presence at the awards, winning multiple Oscars including Best Actor. The ceremony also celebrated achievements in international cinema, animation, documentary filmmaking and technical categories, making Oscars 2026 one of the most memorable Academy Awards in recent years.

Biggest Winner of the Night

The film “One Battle After Another” dominated the Oscars 2026 ceremony with six major awards. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the movie received critical acclaim throughout the awards season and ultimately captured the biggest prize of the night — Best Picture.

The film also won awards for:

Best Director – Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Adapted Screenplay – Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Supporting Actor – Sean Penn
Best Film Editing – Andy Jurgensen
Best Casting – Cassandra Kulukundis

The victory marked a historic moment for Anderson, who had been nominated multiple times previously but had never won an Oscar before this ceremony.

Major Acting Awards at Oscars 2026

The acting categories at the 2026 Academy Awards featured intense competition from some of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

Best Actor

Michael B. Jordan won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in the film “Sinners.” His role in the horror-drama, where he portrayed twin brothers, received widespread praise from critics and audiences alike.

Best Actress

Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her powerful performance in “Hamnet.” Her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway in the historical drama earned her first Academy Award and was considered one of the strongest performances of the year.

Best Supporting Actor

Sean Penn received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “One Battle After Another.”

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Madigan won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the film “Weapons.”

Oscars 2026 Winners List (Major Categories)

Here are the major winners from the Oscars 2026 winners list:

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 Cinematography
Sinners – Autumn Durald Arkapaw

Best Film Editing
One Battle After Another – Andy Jurgensen

Best Original Score
Sinners – Ludwig Göransson

Best Animated Feature
KPop Demon Hunters

Best Original Song
“Golden” – KPop Demon Hunters

Best International Feature Film
Sentimental Value (Norway)

Best Documentary Feature
Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Best Production Design
Frankenstein

Best Costume Design
Frankenstein

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Frankenstein

Best Visual Effects
Avatar: Fire and Ash

Best Sound
F1

Best Animated Short Film
The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Best Live-Action Short Film
Tie – “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva”

These winners represent the wide range of storytelling and technical excellence celebrated by the Academy in 2026.

Historic Moments From the 2026 Oscars

Several historic moments defined the 2026 Academy Awards.

The Norwegian film “Sentimental Value” won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film, marking a major milestone for Norway in the global film industry.

Another standout moment came when Michael B. Jordan became one of the few actors to win Best Actor for portraying multiple characters in a single film. His performance in Sinners earned widespread recognition during the awards season.

Additionally, the horror-inspired film “Frankenstein,” directed by Guillermo del Toro, won multiple technical awards including costume design, production design and makeup, highlighting the growing recognition of genre films at the Oscars.

Global Attention and Memorable Moments

The 98th Academy Awards also attracted international attention due to appearances by several global stars and presenters. Indian actress Priyanka Chopra appeared as a presenter during the ceremony, adding to the event’s international presence.

The ceremony featured political statements, emotional acceptance speeches and tributes to legendary figures in cinema, making it one of the most talked-about Oscars ceremonies in recent years.

Conclusion

The Oscars 2026 winners list reflects a year of bold storytelling, outstanding performances and creative filmmaking. With “One Battle After Another” dominating the awards and “Sinners” following closely behind, the 98th Academy Awards showcased some of the most impressive cinematic achievements of the year.

From powerful acting performances to groundbreaking technical achievements, the Oscars 2026 once again proved why the Academy Awards remain the most prestigious honour in the global film industry.

As the film world moves forward, the winners of the 98th Academy Awards will undoubtedly be remembered as defining highlights of modern cinema.