The 98th Academy Awards, held on March 15, 2026, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, proved to be one of the most competitive and historically significant ceremonies in recent memory. Hosted by the sharp-witted Conan O'Brien, the night was defined by a cinematic "clash of titans" between Paul Thomas Anderson’s political epic One Battle After Another and Ryan Coogler’s vampire blockbuster Sinners. While Sinners entered the night with a record-breaking 16 nominations, it was One Battle After Another that ultimately took home the evening's top prize: Best Picture.
This year’s ceremony was also a milestone for industry recognition, as the Academy presented the first-ever Oscar for Achievement in Casting. Additionally, the night saw history made in the technical categories, with Autumn Durald Arkapaw becoming the first woman ever to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. From emotional first-time wins to a rare tie in the short film category, the 2026 Oscars celebrated the global reach and technical evolution of modern filmmaking.
Full List of Winners and Nominees
The following table provides the comprehensive results for all 23 categories presented at the 98th Academy Awards. Winners are highlighted and marked accordingly.
| Category | Winner | Other Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Best Picture | One Battle After Another | Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, Train Dreams |
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another) | Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), Ryan Coogler (Sinners) |
| Best Actor | Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) | Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) |
| Best Actress | Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) | Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Emma Stone (Bugonia) |
| Best Supporting Actor | Sean Penn (One Battle After Another) | Benicio del Toro (One Battle After Another), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Delroy Lindo (Sinners), Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value) |
| Best Supporting Actress | Amy Madigan (Weapons) | Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value), Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners), Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) |
| Best Original Screenplay | Sinners (Ryan Coogler) | Blue Moon, It Was Just an Accident, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson) | Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Train Dreams |
| Best Animated Feature | KPop Demon Hunters | Arco, Elio, Little Amélie or The Character of Rain, Zootopia 2 |
| Best International Feature | Sentimental Value (Norway) | The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), Sirāt (Spain), The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia) |
| Best Documentary Feature | Mr. Nobody Against Putin | The Alabama Solution, Come See Me in the Good Light, Cutting Through Rocks, The Perfect Neighbor |
| Best Cinematography | Autumn Durald Arkapaw (Sinners) | Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Train Dreams |
| Best Film Editing | Andy Jurgensen (One Battle After Another) | F1, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, Sinners |
| Best Production Design | Frankenstein | Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners |
| Best Costume Design | Frankenstein (Kate Hawley) | Avatar: Fire and Ash, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sinners |
| Best Makeup and Hairstyling | Frankenstein | Kokuho, Sinners, The Smashing Machine, The Ugly Stepsister |
| Best Original Score | Ludwig Göransson (Sinners) | Bugonia, Frankenstein, Hamnet, One Battle After Another |
| Best Original Song | "Golden" (KPop Demon Hunters) | "Dear Me" (Relentless), "I Lied to You" (Sinners), "Sweet Dreams of Joy" (Viva Verdi!), "Train Dreams" (Train Dreams) |
| Best Sound | F1 | Frankenstein, One Battle After Another, Sinners, Sirāt |
| Best Visual Effects | Avatar: Fire and Ash | F1, Jurassic World Rebirth, The Lost Bus, Sinners |
| Best Casting | One Battle After Another (Cassandra Kulukundis) | Hamnet, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sinners |
| Best Animated Short | The Girl Who Cried Pearls | Butterfly, Forevergreen, Retirement Plan, The Three Sisters |
| Best Documentary Short | All the Empty Rooms | Armed Only With a Camera, Children No More, The Devil Is Busy, Perfectly a Strangeness |
| Best Live Action Short | The Singers & Two People Exchanging Saliva (TIE) | Butcher's Stain, A Friend of Dorothy, Jane Austen's Period Drama |
A Global Celebration: Winners by Country
The 2026 Oscars highlighted the increasing internationalization of the Academy. While American productions dominated the major categories, several countries took home prestigious statues, showcasing the diversity of global storytelling.
United States
The U.S. led the pack with the majority of wins, anchored by the success of One Battle After Another and Sinners. This year marked a massive victory for Warner Bros., which tied a record by securing 11 total awards across its slate.
- Best Picture: One Battle After Another
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan
- Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan
- Best Original Screenplay: Ryan Coogler
Norway
Norway had a stellar night, primarily due to the success of Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value. The film was a critical darling throughout the season and solidified its status by winning the top prize for international cinema.
- Best International Feature Film: Sentimental Value
Canada
Canadian talent shone brightly in the technical and animated categories. From production design to animated shorts, the Great White North was well-represented on the winners' podium.
- Best Animated Short Film: The Girl Who Cried Pearls (Directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski)
- Best Production Design: Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau (Frankenstein)
- Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey (Frankenstein)
Sweden
Sweden celebrated a major win through composer Ludwig Göransson, who secured his third career Oscar for the haunting score of Sinners. Additionally, Swedish acting legend Stellan Skarsgård received high praise for his nomination in Sentimental Value.
- Best Original Score: Ludwig Göransson
United Kingdom / Ireland
Ireland's own Jessie Buckley delivered one of the most emotional speeches of the night after winning Best Actress for her performance as Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet. The film, a UK-Ireland co-production, was a major force in the acting and writing categories.
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Major Highlights and Breakdown of the Night
The "One Battle" Sweep
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another ended the night with six Oscars. A satirical action-thriller based on Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, the film resonated with voters for its timely exploration of American extremism. Anderson, who had been nominated 11 times previously without a win, finally secured his first, second, and third Oscars in a single night for Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay.
"I wrote this movie for my kids to say sorry for the housekeeping mess we left in this world we’re handing off to them." — Paul Thomas Anderson during his Best Director acceptance speech.
A Historic Night for Women in Film
Perhaps the most significant moment for the industry was Autumn Durald Arkapaw's win for Best Cinematography. For 98 years, this category had never seen a female winner. Arkapaw’s work on Sinners was praised for its innovative use of light and shadow, and her win was met with a standing ovation that lasted nearly two minutes.
The First Casting Oscar
For the first time in history, the Academy recognized the vital role of casting directors. Cassandra Kulukundis took home the inaugural trophy for One Battle After Another, acknowledging her work in assembling a massive ensemble cast that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and breakout star Chase Infiniti.
The Rare Tie
In a shocking twist, the category of Best Live Action Short Film resulted in a tie between The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva. This marks only the seventh time in Oscar history that two nominees have shared a win in a single category.
Category Analysis: The Big Wins
Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan's Ascent
After years of delivering powerhouse performances in the Creed and Black Panther franchises, Michael B. Jordan finally secured his first Academy Award. In Sinners, Jordan played a dual role that required immense physical and emotional range. His victory over veteran Leonardo DiCaprio was considered one of the most difficult categories to call leading up to the ceremony.
Best Animated Feature: The Rise of KPop
KPop Demon Hunters beat out heavy hitters like Disney’s Zootopia 2 and Pixar’s Elio. The film, directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, was lauded for its vibrant animation style and its celebration of Korean culture. Its win for Best Original Song ("Golden") further proved its dominance in the animation sector this year.
Technical Dominance: Frankenstein
Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein was the night’s technical powerhouse, winning three Oscars for Production Design, Costume Design, and Makeup and Hairstyling. The film’s gothic aesthetic and practical effects work were widely considered the gold standard for 2025 releases.
Conclusion
The 98th Academy Awards will be remembered as a night where the "old guard" and the "new wave" of Hollywood met in a spectacular display of artistic achievement. By honoring Paul Thomas Anderson’s career-defining work and simultaneously breaking barriers with Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s historic win, the Academy demonstrated a commitment to both cinematic tradition and progressive change. The global diversity reflected in winners from Norway, Canada, and the UK reinforces the Oscars' position as the ultimate benchmark for international excellence in film. As the curtain falls on the 2026 awards season, the industry looks forward to the road to the centennial 100th Oscars, with One Battle After Another standing tall as a definitive masterpiece of its era.
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