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If there’s one thing the Oscars are going to do, it’s get people talking. As the last and biggest award show of the season, such is its nature. And that’s what happened this year with the 98th Academy Awards. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, this year’s show saw One Battle After Another walk away as the biggest film of the night with six wins, including Best Picture, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, and the inaugural winner of Best Casting, the first new category added to the Oscars since 2001.
Sinners followed close behind with four Oscars, including taking home the trophy for Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler in his first Oscar win. In a night filled with surprises (Michael B. Jordan winning Actor in a Leading Role, there being a tie in a category for the first time since 2012) and shockers (the production cutting off some of the winners’ speeches, Marty Supreme getting snubbed), the 2026 Oscars were anything but uneventful. Below, we break down some of the biggest moments from the Oscars 2026.
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Autumn Durald Arkapaw Makes History
Heading into the night, Filipino-American cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who was nominated for her work in Sinners, had the opportunity to make history. And that’s exactly what she did with her win for Best Cinematography. In a major accomplishment for Filipinos and women, she became the first woman of Filipino heritage, woman of color, and woman in general to win the category, breaking a glass ceiling that had lasted for nearly 100 years.
In recognition of the historic moment, she used her speech to highlight the role and impact women in the industry have had on her to reach the Oscars stage. And as if it couldn’t get any better, Ryan Coogler carried Autumn’s son up to the front so he could hear his mom’s acceptance speech.
KPOP Demon Hunters’ Big Night
The 2026 Oscars served as the capstone for KPOP Demon Hunters‘ pop culture-defining success. First, it won Best Animated Feature, which felt extra impactful as an Asian-centric film that highlights K-pop culture. Later on, EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna performed Golden, complete with the crowd having lightsticks for the full K-pop concert experience. As the cherry on top, Golden won Best Original Song. With two Oscar wins and a sequel coming in 2029, it’s safe to say HUNTRIX successfully sealed the Honmoon. Also, Teddy Park (yes, that Teddy Park of YG Entertainment fame), is now an Oscar winner as he’s one of Golden’s credited songwriters.
Anna Wintour and Anne Hathaway’s Funny Skit
The producers saw the vision and ran with it in one of the night’s funniest bits. Presenting Best Costume Design and Makeup and Hairstyling, Anna Wintour and Anne Hathaway had a small skit poking fun at Anna’s ice-cold demeanor, snubbing Anne when she asked her what she thought of her dress, and calling the actress Emily, a reference to the name Miranda Priestly calls Andy at the start of The Devil Wears Prada. It served as both cheeky marketing for the upcoming sequel and reminded us of the bit Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt had with Meryl Streep at the 2007 Oscars.
Amy Madigan wins for Best Supporting Actress
Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys in Weapons was one of 2025’s best and most memorable performances. So, it was a deserving win for Actress in a Supporting Role that was made better by how it was also a rare win in an acting category from the horror genre. To put things into perspective, the last time an actor won an Oscar for a horror movie was Natalie Portman in Black Swan in 2010. Hopefully, this will inspire The Academy to treat horror and other genre films with more respect moving forward.
A Bridesmaids Reunion
This year’s Oscars had its fair share of reunions, such as Moulin Rouge co-stars Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor presenting Best Picture. But our favorite reunion goes to the main cast of Bridesmaids (minus Wendi McClendon-Covey, who couldn’t make it because she was healing from a medical procedure) reuniting on stage in honor of the film’s 15th anniversary. What was supposed to be Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Kristin Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Ellie Kemper presenting Original Score and Sound went in a hilarious detour when they read “notes” given to them by the audience. Even after all these years, these ladies are as funny as ever.
Barbara Streisand Honors Robert Redford
This year’s In Memoriam segment featured special tributes to legends we lost in the past year. First, Billy Crystal honored his friend and collaborator Rob Reiner, which ended with many of the actors the director worked with in the past joining hands on stage to honor the fallen filmmaker. Then, Rachel McAdams paid tribute to the late Diane Keaton, her co-star in the Christmas movie,The Family Stone. Finally, Barbara Streisand honored her co-star and longtime friend Robert Redford with a moving speech and by performing The Way We Were, which was dedicated to the late actor.
The Special Sinners Performance
The full performance of “I Lied To You” from ‘SINNERS’ at the Oscars.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 15, 2026
See the full winners list: https://t.co/2LO8EZqZIM pic.twitter.com/hKN7g6PkmN
Unlike in years past, the 2026 Oscars only had two musical performances, one of which was a recreation of the memorable musical scene from Sinners. Featuring a diverse roster of performers, musicians, and some of the movie’s cast, the Oscars stage was turned into a celebration of music, art, and culture. It was elevated further with legendary African-American ballerina Misty Copeland coming out of retirement to perform during the number.
Michael B. Jordan takes home Best Lead Actor
Among all the acting categories, Actor in a Leading Role was seen as a genuine toss-up that could go either way. And in the end, in a surprising but deserving twist that had the room on its feet in thunderous applause, it went to Michael B. Jordan as the dual role of twins Smock and Stack in Sinners. He parlayed his SAG win to Oscar glory, which made him the sixth black man in history to win the leading actor award at the Oscars.
Jessie Buckley Completes Her Awards Season Sweep
Jessie Buckley’s performance as a grieving mother, Agnes, in Hamnet was an emotional gut punch in the best way. So, the Irish actress winning Actress in a Leading Role, and her first Oscar at that, was not surprising yet still well-deserved. In an added flex, Jessie is the only actor to have swept all the major awards this season, proving how much of a powerhouse performance it was.
The First Best Casting Oscar
The Oscar for Best Casting goes to Cassandra Kulukundis for “One Battle After Another.” #Oscars pic.twitter.com/0AY8zaTjSA
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 16, 2026
After 25 years, the Oscars finally added a new category to its lineup, and it’s for the Casting category. The work casting directors do in casting the right actors for the right roles is an instrumental part in any movie, and it felt right seeing their work finally recognized on the Oscars stage. The inaugural winner went to Cassandra Kulukundis for her impeccable work in One Battle After Another, which boasts, among other things, the introduction of Chase Infiniti in her debut film and a career-defining performance from Teyana Taylor.
Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson Finally Being Oscar Winners
This year’s Academy Awards had its fair share of first-time winners, and that included two of the best directors working today. Ryan Coogler bagged the trophy for Best Original Screenplay for Sinners, becoming the second black filmmaker to do so, following Jordan Peele, who won the category for Get Out. In a nice coincidence, both men won their Oscars for a horror movie. Paul Thomas Anderson, after 14 nominations across his storied career, finally became an Oscar winner when he won all three of the nominations he was up for: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Achievement in Directing, and Best Motion Picture of the Year for One Battle After Another.
Frequently Asked Questions
One Battle After Another won Best Picture and Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director at the 98th Academy Awards, securing a total of six wins during the night.
Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman of Filipino heritage, the first woman of color, and the first woman overall to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography.
Michael B. Jordan won Actor in a Leading Role for his dual performance in Sinners, making him the sixth Black actor in history to win the category.
KPOP Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature, while its original track Golden won Best Original Song, earning producer Teddy Park his inaugural Academy Award victory.
The Best Casting category was introduced at the 98th Academy Awards, marking the first new Oscar category since 2001, with Cassandra Kulukundis winning the inaugural trophy.
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