Oscars 2026 Winners: Complete List of 98th Academy Awards Results, Historic Firsts, and Biggest Moments
The 98th Academy Awards delivered a night of historic firsts, emotional victories, and one shocking tie. On Sunday, March 15, 2026, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” claimed Best Picture in what became a triumphant evening for the director, while Ryan Coogler’s record-breaking “Sinners” made history in multiple categories.
From the first woman to win Best Cinematography to the first K-pop song to take home an Oscar, this year’s ceremony will be remembered as one of the most groundbreaking in Academy history.
Complete List of 2026 Oscar Winners
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 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 Animated Feature | KPop Demon Hunters |
| Best International Feature | Sentimental Value (Norway) |
| Best Documentary Feature | Mr Nobody Against Putin |
| Best Cinematography | Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners) |
| Best Film Editing | Andy Jurgensen (One Battle After Another) |
| Best Original Score | Ludwig Göransson (Sinners) |
| Best Original Song | “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters |
| Best Production Design | Tamara Deverell & Shane Vieau (Frankenstein) |
| Best Costume Design | Kate Hawley (Frankenstein) |
| Best Makeup and Hairstyling | Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel & Cliona Furey (Frankenstein) |
| Best Sound | F1 |
| Best Visual Effects | Avatar: Fire and Ash |
| Best Casting (NEW) | Cassandra Kulukundis (One Battle After Another) |
| Best Documentary Short | All the Empty Rooms |
| Best Animated Short | The Girl Who Cried Pearls |
| Best Live Action Short | TIE: The Singers & Two People Exchanging Saliva |
The Big Winners: By the Numbers
- One Battle After Another: 6 wins (Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor, Editing, Casting)
- Sinners: 4 wins (Best Actor, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Original Score)
- Frankenstein: 3 wins (Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling)
- KPop Demon Hunters: 2 wins (Animated Feature, Original Song)
A Night of Historic Firsts
The 98th Academy Awards saw multiple barriers broken: the first woman and first Black cinematographer to win Best Cinematography, the first K-pop song to win an Oscar, Norway’s first-ever Academy Award, and the first Best Casting award in Oscar history.
Best Picture: “One Battle After Another”
Paul Thomas Anderson’s sweeping epic “One Battle After Another” claimed the night’s top prize, capping off a dominant evening for the acclaimed director. The film, which tells the story of a washed-up revolutionary battling old foes for the safety of his daughter, marks Anderson’s first Academy Award for Best Picture despite a career filled with critically acclaimed works including “There Will Be Blood,” “Phantom Thread,” and “Boogie Nights.”
Anderson also took home Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, making it a three-award night personally for the filmmaker. The film’s success continued with Sean Penn’s Supporting Actor win, Andy Jurgensen’s editing triumph, and Cassandra Kulukundis’s historic first-ever Best Casting award.
Michael B. Jordan: Best Actor for “Sinners”
Michael B. Jordan delivered the performance of his career in Ryan Coogler’s vampire epic “Sinners,” playing dual roles as twin brothers in 1930s Mississippi. The film, which earned a record-breaking 16 nominations (surpassing the previous record held by “Titanic,” “All About Eve,” and “La La Land”), converted four of those into wins.
Jordan’s victory marks his first Oscar win after years of acclaimed work, including his previous collaborations with Coogler on “Fruitvale Station,” “Creed,” and “Black Panther.”
Jessie Buckley Makes History
Irish actress Jessie Buckley became the first Irish woman to win the Best Actress Oscar for her devastating portrayal of Anne Hathaway (Shakespeare’s wife) in Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet.” The performance, which required Buckley to convey the grief of losing a child while navigating the complexities of marriage to history’s greatest playwright, earned unanimous critical praise.
Buckley’s win comes after her Supporting Actress nomination for “The Lost Daughter” in 2022, confirming her as one of the finest actresses of her generation.
The Cinematography Breakthrough
Perhaps the most significant historic moment of the evening came when Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography for “Sinners,” becoming both the first woman and first Black person to win in the category’s 97-year history.
Arkapaw, known for her work on “The Sun Is Also a Star” and Marvel’s “Loki,” delivered stunning visuals for Coogler’s vampire tale, blending the sun-drenched landscapes of 1930s Mississippi with the shadows of supernatural horror.
Ryan Coogler’s First Oscar
While “Sinners” didn’t claim Best Picture, writer-director Ryan Coogler won his first Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The “Black Panther” director has now established himself as one of Hollywood’s most consistent and acclaimed filmmakers.
K-Pop Makes Oscar History
“Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” became the first K-pop song to win Best Original Song, a victory that marks another milestone for Korean entertainment following “Parasite’s” historic Best Picture win in 2020. The animated film also claimed Best Animated Feature, giving the production a double victory.
The win was bittersweet, however, as the acceptance speech was cut short due to time constraints, prompting social media outrage from fans worldwide.
Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” Dominates Craft Categories
Netflix’s “Frankenstein,” directed by Guillermo del Toro, swept the craft categories with three wins: Best Production Design (Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau), Best Costume Design (Kate Hawley), and Best Makeup and Hairstyling (Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, and Cliona Furey).
The film’s gothic visuals and practical creature effects set a new standard for monster movies, continuing del Toro’s legacy of visually stunning filmmaking. With these wins, del Toro’s films have now earned 11 Academy Awards total.
Norway’s First Oscar
“Sentimental Value” gave Norway its first-ever Academy Award, winning Best International Feature Film. Director Joachim Trier, known for “The Worst Person in the World,” delivered an intimate drama that resonated with Academy voters.
Documentary Win Delivers Political Message
“Mr Nobody Against Putin,” the Czech-Danish documentary about Russian teacher Pavel Talankin who exposed state propaganda during the Ukraine war, won Best Documentary Feature. Talankin used his acceptance speech to deliver a powerful anti-war message:
“In the name of our future, in the name of all of our children, stop all of these wars now.”
The win marked the first Oscar for a Czech production in nearly 30 years.
Historic Tie in Live Action Short
For just the seventh time in Academy Awards history, a category ended in a tie. “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” both won Best Live Action Short Film.
Presenter Kumail Nanjiani delivered one of the night’s best quips upon announcing the unusual result: “It’s ironic that the short film Oscar is going to take twice as long.”
The First-Ever Best Casting Oscar
In a historic moment, the Academy presented its first competitive award for casting. Cassandra Kulukundis won for “One Battle After Another,” recognizing a craft that has long been considered essential but overlooked by the Academy.
This marks the first new competitive category since Best Animated Feature was introduced in 2001.
Other Notable Winners
- Ludwig Göransson won his third career Oscar for Best Original Score (Sinners), adding to his wins for “Black Panther” and “Oppenheimer”
- Avatar: Fire and Ash continued James Cameron’s visual effects dominance with another VFX win
- F1 took home Best Sound, recognizing the Brad Pitt racing drama’s immersive audio experience
- Amy Madigan won her first Oscar for Supporting Actress after a four-decade career
- Sean Penn added another trophy to his collection with his Supporting Actor win, though notably missed the ceremony
Conan O’Brien Returns as Host
Conan O’Brien returned to host the Oscars for the second consecutive year, bringing his signature wit throughout the evening. His ability to navigate the ceremony’s emotional highs and awkward moments (including the cut-off speeches and the shocking tie announcement) earned praise from viewers and critics alike.
Share Your Thoughts!
What did you think of this year’s Oscar winners? Were there any surprises or snubs? Let us know in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
What won Best Picture at the 2026 Oscars?
“One Battle After Another,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, won Best Picture at the 98th Academy Awards. The film earned six Oscars total, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Anderson.
Who won Best Actor at the 2026 Oscars?
Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his dual role as twin brothers in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.” This marks Jordan’s first Academy Award.
Who won Best Actress at the 2026 Oscars?
Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for “Hamnet,” becoming the first Irish woman to win the award. She portrayed Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare.
What film had the most Oscar nominations in 2026?
“Sinners” received 16 nominations, breaking the all-time record previously held by “Titanic,” “All About Eve,” and “La La Land” (14 nominations each). The film won four Oscars.
Who was the first woman to win Best Cinematography?
Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman and first Black person to win Best Cinematography at the 2026 Oscars for her work on “Sinners.”
What was the new Oscar category in 2026?
Best Casting was introduced as a new competitive category at the 2026 Oscars, the first new category since Best Animated Feature in 2001. Cassandra Kulukundis won the inaugural award for “One Battle After Another.”
Was there a tie at the 2026 Oscars?
Yes, Best Live Action Short Film ended in a tie between “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva.” This was only the seventh tie in Academy Awards history.
