The 98th Academy Awards took place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Conan O’Brien hosting a lively evening celebrating films from 2025. The ceremony mixed glittering red-carpet moments with heartfelt tributes to artists and filmmakers.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically charged drama “One Battle After Another” dominated the night, winning six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and the newly introduced Best Casting award. Sean Penn picked up Best Supporting Actor for the film, though he was absent from the ceremony.
“Sinners”, a supernatural period thriller, also made a mark with four wins. Michael B. Jordan earned Best Actor, Ryan Coogler won Best Original Screenplay, Ludwig Göransson took Best Original Score, and Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman and person of color to win Best Cinematography.
In the acting categories, Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her emotional performance in “Hamnet”, while Amy Madigan took Best Supporting Actress for Weapons, marking a celebrated return to the Oscars.
Animated and international films were also celebrated. “KPop Demon Hunters” earned Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (“Golden”), while Norway’s “Sentimental Value” won Best International Feature Film. The documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” took home Best Documentary Feature, and technical awards went to “F1” (Best Sound) and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (Best Visual Effects). A rare tie occurred in Best Live Action Short Film.
