Oscar winners 2026

Hollywood celebrated another glittering night of cinema at the 98th Academy Awards, held at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony brought together the biggest names in film, with a mix of expected victories and a few genuine surprises as the industry honoured the standout performances and productions of the past year.

The evening’s biggest triumph belonged to Paul Thomas Anderson’s sweeping drama One Battle After Another, which claimed Best Picture and ultimately walked away with six Oscars in total. The film overcame strong competition from titles including Sinners and Hamnet to secure the most coveted prize in filmmaking.

For Anderson, the win marked a major milestone in a career already filled with critical acclaim. Known for directing films such as There Will Be Blood and Boogie Nights, Anderson’s latest project proved irresistible to Academy voters, earning praise for its storytelling, direction, and technical craftsmanship.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s Big Night

The night firmly belonged to Paul Thomas Anderson, who picked up Best Director alongside the Best Picture prize for One Battle After Another. The film also collected additional honours for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Music, and Best Casting, making it the most decorated production of the ceremony.

Industry insiders had tipped the film as a strong contender throughout awards season, but the scale of its success still surprised some observers. Critics had praised the movie’s layered narrative and emotional depth, with Anderson’s meticulous direction once again demonstrating why he remains one of modern cinema’s most respected filmmakers.

The story, adapted from acclaimed source material, blends historical drama with character-driven storytelling, a combination that resonated strongly with voters and audiences alike.

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Sean Penn Wins Supporting Actor

One of the night’s talking points was the Best Supporting Actor category, which saw Sean Penn take home the Oscar for his performance in One Battle After Another.

Penn was not present at the ceremony, but his work in the film was widely applauded for its intensity and emotional depth. His victory placed him ahead of a strong field that included Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein and veteran actor Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value.

The win adds another accolade to Penn’s long and decorated career. Known for powerful performances in films such as Mystic River and Milk, the actor continues to command attention decades into his Hollywood career.

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Michael B. Jordan Triumphs as Best Actor

The Best Actor race proved one of the most competitive categories of the evening. Ultimately, the award went to Michael B. Jordan for his remarkable performance in Sinners.

Jordan took on the ambitious challenge of portraying identical twins, delivering two distinct performances within the same film. Critics and audiences alike praised the technical and emotional complexity of the roles, which helped secure him the Oscar.

Sinners entered the ceremony as the most nominated film of the year, and although it missed out on Best Picture, it still enjoyed a successful evening. The film collected awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best Music, and Best Cinematography, cementing its reputation as one of the most technically impressive productions of the year.

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Jessie Buckley Takes Best Actress

In the Best Actress category, Irish performer Jessie Buckley finally secured an Academy Award after several years of critical acclaim.

Buckley won for her role in Hamnet, a film adaptation that has been widely praised for its emotional storytelling. Her portrayal of a grieving mother in Shakespearean England resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike.

Buckley has long been considered one of the most compelling performers of her generation, with memorable roles across film, television, and theatre. The Oscar victory marks a defining moment in her career and solidifies her position as one of the industry’s most respected actors.

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Amy Madigan Scores First Oscar

Read below for the full list of nominees and winners.

Oscar winners 2026: Full list of Academy Awards winners

Best picture

• Bugonia
• F1
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another – WINNER
• The Secret Agent
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners
• Train Dreams

Best director

• Chloe Zhao – Hamnet
• Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
• Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER
• Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
• Ryan Coogler – Sinners

Best actor

• Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
• Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
• Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
• Michael B Jordan – Sinners – WINNER
• Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

Best actress

• Jessie Buckley – Hamnet – WINNER
• 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

• Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
• Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
• Delroy Lindo – Sinners
• Sean Penn – One Battle After Another – WINNER
• Stellan Skarsgaard – Sentimental Value

Best supporting actress

• Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
• Amy Madigan – Weapons – WINNER
• Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
• Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

Best original screenplay

• Blue Moon
• It Was Just an Accident
• Marty Supreme
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners – WINNER

Best adapted screenplay

• Bugonia
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• One Battle After Another – WINNER
• Train Dreams

Best animated feature

• Arco
• Elio
• K-Pop Demon Hunters – WINNER
• Little Amélie of the Character of Rain
• Zootropolis 2

Best international film

• The Secret Agent
• It Was Just an Accident
• Sentimental Value – WINNER
• Sirat
• The Voice of Hind Rajab

Best original score

• Bugonia
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• One Battle After Another
• Sinners – WINNER

Best original song

• Dear Me from Diane Warren: Relentless
• Golden from K-Pop Demon Hunters – WINNER
• I Lied to You from Sinners
• Sweet Dreams of Joy from Viva Verdi!
• Train Dreams from Train Dreams

Best costume design

• Avatar: Fire and Ash
• Frankenstein – WINNER
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• Sinners

Best cinematography

• Frankenstein
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another
• Sinners – WINNER
• Train Dreams

Best documentary feature

• The Alabama Solution
• Come See Me in the Good Light
• Cutting Through Rocks
• Mr Nobody Against Putin – WINNER
• The Perfect Neighbour

Best film editing

• F1
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another – WINNER
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners

Best production design

• Frankenstein – WINNER
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another
• Sinners

Best makeup and hairstyling

• Frankenstein – WINNER
• Kokuho
• Sinners
• The Smashing Machine
• The Ugly Stepsister

Best sound

• F1 – WINNER
• Frankenstein
• One Battle After Another
• Sinners
• Sirat

Best visual effects

• Avatar: Fire and Ash – WINNER
• F1
• Jurassic World: Rebirth
• The Lost Bus
• Sinners

Best casting

• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another – WINNER
• The Secret Agent
• Sinners

Best short documentary

• All the Empty Rooms – WINNER
• Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
• Children No More: “Were and are Gone”
• The Devil is Busy
• Perfectly a Strangeness

Best short film (animation)

• Butterfly
• Forevergreen
• The Girl Who Cried Pearls – WINNER
• Retirement Plan
• The Three Sisters

Best short film (live action)

• Butcher’s Stain
• A Friend of Dorothy
• Jane Austen’s Period Drama
• The Singers – WINNER
• Two People Exchanging Saliva

A Ceremony Celebrating Global Cinema

The 98th Academy Awards highlighted the growing diversity and creativity of modern filmmaking. From blockbuster performances to independent international productions, the ceremony reflected the broad range of voices shaping the film industry today.

With One Battle After Another emerging as the night’s biggest winner and Sinners dominating nominations, the awards showcased the strength of storytelling across genres — from historical drama and literary adaptations to political documentaries and animated adventures.

For filmmakers and fans alike, the Oscars once again served as a celebration of the art of cinema, honouring the artists who continue to push the medium forward.