Table of Contents
Biggest Wins of the Night
The 98th Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, saw a competitive field of films vying for the top honors. Leading the pack was Paul Thomas Anderson’s black comedy action thriller, “One Battle After Another” . The film lived up to its name, taking home a total of six Oscars . Its wins included the night’s most prestigious award, Best Picture, as well as Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn . This marked Anderson’s first Oscar win after decades of critical acclaim .
Not far behind was the vampire drama “Sinners,” which secured four awards . The film’s star, Michael B. Jordan, won his first Oscar for Best Actor for his dual performance as twins Smoke and Stack . In his emotional acceptance speech, he thanked Black artists who paved the way, including Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington . Ryan Coogler also won his first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd .
In other major categories, Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her role in “Hamnet,” becoming the first Irish actor to win in that category . Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Weapons” .
Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history by winning Best Cinematography for “Sinners” . She is the first woman to ever win this Oscar . In a powerful moment, she asked all the women in the Dolby Theatre to stand up, saying she wouldn’t be there without them .
The Emotional Heart of the Show
The 2026 Oscars will be remembered not just for the winners, but for the profound emotional weight of its In Memoriam segment. Extended to honor a year of significant losses, the tribute was led by a heart-wrenching speech from Billy Crystal remembering his friend, director Rob Reiner, and his wife, Michele Singer, who were murdered in December . Crystal was joined by a host of Reiner’s past collaborators, including Meg Ryan and Kathy Bates .
The segment continued with Rachel McAdams growing visibly emotional as she paid tribute to Diane Keaton and Catherine O’Hara . Remembering Keaton, her co-star in “The Family Stone,” McAdams shared a personal memory and a poem, calling her a “legend with no end” . Viewers at home called it the “saddest ever” In Memoriam, praising the Academy for finally giving the departed stars the tribute they deserved . The segment concluded with Barbra Streisand honoring Robert Redford with a moving rendition of “The Way We Were” .
Other Memorable Moments
Beyond the main awards and tributes, the night was filled with other notable events. Conan O’Brien hosted with a highly praised opening bit that took him through the worlds of the Best Picture nominees . A rare tie occurred in the Best Live Action Short category, with both “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” winning, prompting O’Brien to joke about “ruining 22 million Oscar pools” .
Politics also took the stage. Javier Bardem wore a “No a la Guerra” patch and declared “No to war and free Palestine” while presenting an award, with other actors also criticizing the direction of the United States . In a lighter moment, the cast of “Bridesmaids” reunited for a hilarious presentation, delighting the audience .
The night was capped by a joyful scene as the cast and crew of “One Battle After Another” celebrated their Best Picture win, with Teyana Taylor putting director Paul Thomas Anderson in a playful headlock as they headed to the stage
