Hollywood’s biggest night delivered drama, glamour, and history. Discover all the highlights from Oscars 2026 — surprise wins, emotional speeches, record-breaking films, and unforgettable red-carpet moments

New Delhi: The 98th Academy Awards took place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood, celebrating the best films released in 2025. The ceremony was hosted by Conan O’Brien for the second year in a row. It was broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu. The main show began at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, while the preshow started at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The event was produced by Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, and directed by Hamish Hamilton. The ceremony lasted around 3 hours and 45 minutes. Despite global tensions, including the Iran conflict, the night featured humor, emotional speeches, historic wins, and memorable moments celebrating cinema.

Pre-Show Build-Up and Nominations

The nominations were announced on January 22, 2026, by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

The film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, created history by receiving 16 nominations, the highest ever for a single film. This broke the previous record of 14 nominations held by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land. The film also had a record ten Black nominees, the most for any one film.

Another major contender was One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, which received 13 nominations.

Actor Timothée Chalamet also made history by becoming the youngest actor to receive three acting nominations, along with a producing nomination.

The Academy also introduced two major changes:
• Members had to watch all nominated films before voting.
• A new Casting category was added, the first new category since Best Animated Feature was introduced in 2001.

Red Carpet Highlights

The 900-foot red carpet featured classic Hollywood glamour.

Some of the most talked-about looks included:
• Elle Fanning wearing a Cinderella-style white gown.
• Nicole Kidman in elegant couture.
• Demi Moore looking sophisticated.
• Rose Byrne in a floral outfit.
• Timothée Chalamet in a sharp tailored suit.
• Michael B. Jordan showing his signature charisma.

Indian star Priyanka Chopra Jonas also drew attention in a stunning Dior outfit. She later presented an award with Javier Bardem.

The preshow was hosted by Tamron Hall and Jesse Palmer, who welcomed stars like Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver, Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, Channing Tatum, and Paul Mescal.

Opening Monologue and Host Performance

Host Conan O’Brien opened the show with a humorous and balanced monologue.

A pre-recorded opening showed him dressed in makeup inspired by Amy Madigan from the film Weapons, running through scenes from nominated movies.

He joked about Timothée Chalamet and his comments about ballet and opera. He also made a funny remark about Ted Sarandos visiting a movie theatre for the first time.

O’Brien also mentioned serious topics such as AI threats and global events, joking that he was “honored to be the last human host.” Some jokes were widely appreciated, while others felt slightly forced, but overall he maintained a thoughtful tone.

Key Performances and Musical Moments

The ceremony also featured memorable musical performances.

Singer Miles Caton performed “I Lied to You” from Sinners, recreating a powerful moment from the film.

The team from KPop Demon Hunters performed the energetic song “Golden.” The performance celebrated the success of Netflix’s animated film.

Major Acting Award Winners

Best Actor:
Michael B. Jordan won his first Oscar for playing dual roles in Sinners. He received a standing ovation and thanked Black pioneers, his mother, and director Ryan Coogler.

Best Actress:
Jessie Buckley won for her emotional performance in Hamnet.

Best Supporting Actor:
Sean Penn won for One Battle After Another, but he did not attend the ceremony. Kieran Culkin jokingly mentioned his absence while presenting the award.

Best Supporting Actress:
Amy Madigan won for Weapons, marking a surprising victory after a 40-year gap since her last nomination. She happily said, “I got this little gold guy!”

Best Picture and Directing Awards

The biggest award, Best Picture, went to One Battle After Another. Its producers Adam Somner, Sara Murphy, and Paul Thomas Anderson accepted the award.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson also won Best Director, his first Oscar after many nominations. He also won Best Adapted Screenplay for the same film.

Meanwhile, Ryan Coogler won Best Original Screenplay for Sinners.

Other Major Wins and Historic Moments

Several historic milestones happened during the ceremony:

• Best Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw for Sinners — the first woman and person of color to win this award.
• Best Original Score: Ludwig Göransson for Sinners, his third Oscar.
• Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value from Norway, the country’s first Oscar win.
• Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters, which also won Best Original Song for “Golden,” the first K-pop song to win an Oscar.
• Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash.

The film Frankenstein won three technical awards:

• Makeup and Hairstyling
• Costume Design
• Production Design

A new award category for Casting was won by Cassandra Kulukundis for One Battle After Another.

There was also a rare tie in Best Live Action Short Film between The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva.

Overall:

• One Battle After Another won six awards.
• Sinners won four awards.
• Frankenstein won three awards.

Viral, Emotional, and Fun Moments

The night also had many entertaining and emotional highlights.

• Sigourney Weaver humorously repeated her famous line “Get away from him, you bitch!” while speaking to Grogu, who was sitting next to Kate Hudson.
• Anna Wintour accidentally called Anne Hathaway “Emily,” referencing her character in The Devil Wears Prada.
• A reunion of the Bridesmaids cast, including Maya Rudolph and Rose Byrne, brought laughter to the audience.
• The In Memoriam tribute was introduced by Billy Crystal, honoring late filmmaker Rob Reiner, with touching memories shared by Rachel McAdams and Barbra Streisand.

Emotional speeches by Amy Madigan and Michael B. Jordan were among the most memorable moments of the night.

Controversies and Challenges

Before the ceremony, there were several controversies and challenges. Some films faced criticism over issues like offensive language and accusations of anti-Semitism. There was also a racial slur controversy involving the cast of Sinners at the BAFTA awards.

Palestinian actress Motaz Malhees was unable to attend the Oscars because of travel restrictions.

During the show, some jokes in the host’s monologue did not land well with the audience. A few winners were also cut off while giving their speeches because of time limits. Security at the event was tight due to global tensions.

Overall Night and Legacy

The 98th Academy Awards will be remembered for the big success of One Battle After Another, the record nominations for Sinners, and several historic achievements such as Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s groundbreaking cinematography win.

Host Conan O’Brien kept the ceremony lively, and the evening was filled with glamour, emotional speeches, and unforgettable moments.

From Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s stunning red-carpet appearance to Michael B. Jordan’s powerful victory speech, the night showed Hollywood at its best—celebrating creativity, diversity, and the magic of cinema.