Hollywood crowned its best last night at the 98th Academy Awards, held at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Comedian Conan O’Brien hosted an evening full of historic firsts, emotional speeches, and one clear champion: Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which dominated the night with six Oscar wins including the coveted Best Picture.
From a groundbreaking win in cinematography to a brand-new category for Best Casting, here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Oscars.
The Big Story: One Battle After Another Reigns Supreme
Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic One Battle After Another was the night’s biggest winner, claiming six Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and the newly introduced Best Casting award.
Hot on its heels was Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which picked up four awards — Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, and the historic Best Cinematography win for Autumn Durald Arkapaw.
| 🏆 | One Battle After Another: 6 wins | Sinners: 4 wins | Warner Bros. led all studios with 11 total awards. |
Complete Winners List
Here is the full breakdown of this year’s Oscar winners across major and craft categories:
| Category | Film | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Best Picture | One Battle After Another | — |
| Best Director | One Battle After Another | Paul Thomas Anderson |
| Best Actor | Sinners | Michael B. Jordan |
| Best Actress | Hamnet | Jessie Buckley |
| Best Supporting Actor | One Battle After Another | Sean Penn |
| Best Supporting Actress | Weapons | Amy Madigan |
| Best Cinematography | Sinners | Autumn Durald Arkapaw |
| Best Original Score | Sinners | Ludwig Göransson |
| Best Original Screenplay | Sinners | Ryan Coogler |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | One Battle After Another | Paul Thomas Anderson |
| Best Film Editing | One Battle After Another | — |
| Best Animated Feature | Avatar: Fire and Ash | — |
| Best International Film | Sentimental Value (Norway) | — |
| Best Sound | F1 | — |
| Best Makeup & Hairstyling | Frankenstein | — |
| Best Costume Design | Frankenstein | — |
| Best Production Design | Frankenstein | — |
| Best Documentary Feature | Mr. Nobody Against Putin | — |
| Best Original Song | KPop Demon Hunters | — |
| Best Casting (NEW) | One Battle After Another | — |
Performance Spotlights
Michael B. Jordan — Best Actor
Michael B. Jordan earned his first Oscar for his remarkable dual performance as twins Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. Playing two distinct characters in the same film, Jordan showcased extraordinary range and physicality, and his win was met with a standing ovation from the Dolby Theatre crowd.
Jessie Buckley — Best Actress
British-Irish actress Jessie Buckley won her first Oscar for her portrayal in Hamnet, the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel. Buckley was visibly emotional when her name was called, immediately breaking into tears — a moment that quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about.
Sean Penn — Best Supporting Actor
Hollywood veteran Sean Penn added another Oscar to his mantle for his role in One Battle After Another. The win further cemented the film’s dominance on the night.
Amy Madigan — Best Supporting Actress
Amy Madigan took home Best Supporting Actress for Weapons. Host Conan O’Brien cheekily opened the show dressed as Madigan’s character Aunt Gladys from the film, a nod to the performance that ultimately won the night.
Historic Moments of the Night
| 📸 | Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman in Oscar history to win Best Cinematography, for her stunning visual work on Sinners. |
| 🆕 | Best Casting was awarded for the very first time in Academy history — won by One Battle After Another. |
| 🎵 | Ludwig Göransson won his third career Oscar for Best Original Score (Sinners), paying tribute to his late father in his acceptance speech. |
Ceremony Highlights
Conan O’Brien proved to be an inspired choice as host, opening the evening in costume as Amy Madigan’s Weapons character before delivering a sharp, affectionate tribute to each of the nominated films. By the end of the night, he was jokingly awarded the title of ‘host for life’ in a post-ceremony bit.
Billy Crystal opened the In Memoriam segment with a deeply personal tribute to his close friend and frequent collaborator Rob Reiner, while Barbra Streisand honoured Robert Redford in a moving video tribute.
The evening was not without its political undercurrents. The Committee for the First Amendment — a Hollywood free speech coalition — issued a statement during the ceremony warning of what it described as escalating threats to free expression, calling it ‘not a normal Oscars.’ Several presenters and winners used their moments at the podium to echo similar sentiments.
By the Numbers
Warner Bros. was the big studio winner of the night, walking away with 11 total statuettes — the most of any distributor. Netflix came in second with five wins, reflecting the streaming giant’s continued presence at the awards table.
Final Thoughts
The 98th Academy Awards was a night of celebration, history, and heartfelt emotion. One Battle After Another’s commanding sweep confirmed Paul Thomas Anderson as one of Hollywood’s most consistently celebrated filmmakers. Meanwhile, Sinners delivered Ryan Coogler’s most decorated Oscars night yet, with Michael B. Jordan’s win standing out as a career-defining moment.
As the industry continues to navigate rapid changes in how films are made and distributed, this year’s Oscars offered a reminder of the enduring power of cinema — and the stories it tells.
