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The 98th Academy Awards were held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with Conan O’Brien hosting for a second straight year.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” won best picture and led the night with six Oscars, including a new award for casting.
Michael B. Jordan won best actor for “Sinners,” while Jessie Buckley won best actress for “Hamnet.”
“Sinners” entered the ceremony with a record 16 nominations and won key craft prizes including original score and cinematography.

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The Academy Awards returned to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026, with the 98th Oscars bringing a dominant night for “One Battle After Another,” major acting wins for Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley, and the debut of a new competitive category recognizing casting.

## The night’s top winner: “One Battle After Another”

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” won the Academy Award for best picture and finished the night with six Oscars. In addition to the top prize, Anderson won best director and best adapted screenplay for the film.

The film also won best film editing (Andy Jurgensen). It added best supporting actor for Sean Penn. It also captured the first-ever Oscar for casting, awarded to casting director Cassandra Kulukundis.

The new casting award was introduced this year, expanding the competitive Oscar categories and putting a spotlight on a part of filmmaking that often stays behind the scenes.

## Lead acting prizes go to Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley

Michael B. Jordan won best actor for “Sinners,” earning his first Oscar. The win capped a strong night for the film even as it fell short of the top prize.

Jessie Buckley won best actress for “Hamnet,” a performance that had been a major focus throughout the season. Her win placed “Hamnet” at the center of the ceremony’s acting conversation, even as the biggest haul of awards went elsewhere.

In the supporting categories, Amy Madigan won best supporting actress for “Weapons,” becoming the first winner announced during the ceremony. Sean Penn’s supporting-actor win added another major acting honor for “One Battle After Another.”

## “Sinners” sets a nominations record and takes craft awards

“Sinners” entered the 98th Oscars with a record 16 nominations. On Oscar night it won several high-profile craft categories.

Ludwig Göransson won best original score for “Sinners.” Autumn Durald Arkapaw won best cinematography for the film. Ryan Coogler won best original screenplay for “Sinners,” giving the movie a key above-the-line victory.

The results reflected a split outcome that is common in years with multiple strong contenders: one film leading the overall awards count, and another collecting a mix of writing and craft prizes.

## Music, international film, documentaries, and animation

The Oscar for best animated feature went to “KPop Demon Hunters.” The film also won best original song for “Golden.”

Norway’s “Sentimental Value” won best international feature film.

In documentaries, “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” won best documentary feature.

Two short-film categories drew attention for their variety, including a tie in best live action short film, with both “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” named winners.

## Selected winners (major categories and notable awards)

- **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 Original Score:** “Sinners” (Ludwig Göransson)
- **Best Original Song:** “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters”
- **Best Cinematography:** “Sinners” (Autumn Durald Arkapaw)
- **Best Visual Effects:** “Avatar: Fire and Ash”
- **Best Sound:** “F1”
- **Best Production Design:** “Frankenstein”
- **Best Costume Design:** “Frankenstein”
- **Best Makeup and Hairstyling:** “Frankenstein”
- **Best Film Editing:** “One Battle After Another” (Andy Jurgensen)
- **Best Casting (new category):** Cassandra Kulukundis, “One Battle After Another”

Host Conan O’Brien guided the show through the night’s mix of big wins, first-time victories, and the debut of the casting Oscar—an addition that signaled how the Academy continues to adjust what it formally recognizes in modern filmmaking.

AI Perspective

This year’s Oscars showed how the Academy can spread recognition across very different kinds of achievements, from acting and writing to editing and casting. The new casting award also highlighted how many creative decisions shape what audiences ultimately see on screen. The results suggest that Oscar nights can still produce clear front-runners while leaving room for several films to share the spotlight.