Oscars 2026 Winners List: Complete Results From the 98th Academy Awards

Hollywood’s biggest night returned in spectacular fashion as the 98th Academy Awards celebrated the best films and performances of the past year. Held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, the ceremony delivered emotional speeches, historic firsts, surprise victories, and one film that clearly dominated the evening.

The night ultimately belonged to One Battle After Another, which emerged as the biggest winner, while Sinners followed closely behind with major acting and technical victories. From career-defining performances to groundbreaking achievements behind the camera, the Oscars 2026 reflected an evolving film industry focused on bold storytelling and diverse creative voices.

Below is a full, USA-audience–friendly breakdown of the Oscars 2026 winners, along with highlights that defined the night.

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⭐ Biggest Winner of the Night: One Battle After Another

The standout film of the ceremony was Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which captured six Academy Awards, including the coveted Best Picture prize.

The film had been a strong awards-season contender, but its sweep confirmed its place as the defining cinematic achievement of the year. Critics praised its ambitious storytelling, layered performances, and meticulous filmmaking — qualities that resonated strongly with Academy voters.

Winning Best Picture solidified Anderson’s reputation as one of modern cinema’s most respected directors, marking one of the most significant milestones of his career.

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🏆 Oscars 2026 — Major Category Winners

Best Picture

Winner: One Battle After Another

Nominees included:

• Sinners

• Hamnet

• Frankenstein

• F1

• Marty Supreme

• Sentimental Value

• Bugonia

• Train Dreams

• The Secret Agent

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Best Director

Winner: Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another

Anderson’s victory crowned a season-long awards run and reinforced his influence as one of Hollywood’s most visionary filmmakers.

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Best Actor

Winner: Michael B. Jordan — Sinners

Jordan delivered one of the most talked-about performances of the year, portraying twin characters — a demanding dual role that earned widespread acclaim and ultimately secured his first Best Actor Oscar.

His win marked a historic moment, as he became the first performer to win the award for playing twins in a single film.

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Best Actress

Winner: Jessie Buckley — Hamnet

Buckley’s emotionally layered performance captivated audiences and critics alike. Her victory represented a career breakthrough and highlighted the growing recognition of character-driven dramas at the Oscars.

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Best Supporting Actor

Winner: Sean Penn — One Battle After Another

Penn’s win marked his third Academy Award, placing him among an elite group of actors with three acting Oscars.

Interestingly, Penn did not attend the ceremony, and his award was accepted on his behalf.

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Best Supporting Actress

Winner: Amy Madigan — Weapons

Madigan earned her first Oscar decades into her career, delivering one of the night’s most emotional moments. Her win was especially notable because horror films rarely receive acting recognition from the Academy.

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✍️ Writing Awards

Best Original Screenplay

Winner: Sinners — Ryan Coogler

The screenplay blended genre storytelling with social commentary, earning praise for originality and emotional depth.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Winner: One Battle After Another

This win further cemented the film’s dominance across major categories.

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🎬 Technical & Craft Category Highlights

Best Cinematography

Winner: Sinners — Autumn Durald Arkapaw

This victory made history, as Arkapaw became the first woman to win Best Cinematography at the Oscars.

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Best Film Editing

Winner: One Battle After Another

The film’s pacing and narrative structure were widely credited for helping audiences navigate its complex storytelling.

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Best Production Design

Winner: Frankenstein

The visually rich reimagining earned recognition for its immersive world-building.

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Best Costume Design

Winner: Frankenstein

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Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Winner: Frankenstein

The film’s transformation-heavy aesthetic made it a favorite in craft categories.

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Best Original Score

Winner: Sinners — Ludwig Göransson

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Best Sound

Winner: F1

The high-octane racing drama impressed voters with immersive audio design.

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Best Visual Effects

Winner: Avatar: Fire and Ash

Another technical triumph for the long-running blockbuster franchise.

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🎥 International & Feature Categories

Best International Feature Film

Winner: Sentimental Value (Norway)

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Best Documentary Feature

Winner: Mr. Nobody Against Putin

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Best Animated Feature

Winner: KPop Demon Hunters

The film also won Best Original Song, giving animation a strong presence during the ceremony.

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🆕 A Historic New Category

The 2026 Oscars introduced Best Casting, the first new competitive category in over two decades.

Winner: Cassandra Kulukundis — One Battle After Another

The addition recognized casting directors’ crucial role in shaping performances and storytelling — a long-awaited acknowledgment within the industry.

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🎖 Honorary & Special Awards

The ceremony also celebrated lifetime achievements and humanitarian contributions:

• Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Dolly Parton

• Honorary Oscars: Tom Cruise, Debbie Allen, Wynn Thomas

These honors highlighted careers that have shaped Hollywood both artistically and culturally.

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🎤 Memorable Moments From the Night

Beyond the winners list, several themes defined Oscars 2026:

1. A Balance of Prestige and Popular Cinema

Art-house storytelling (One Battle After Another) and blockbuster spectacle (Avatar: Fire and Ash) shared the spotlight, signaling the Academy’s broader embrace of different filmmaking styles.

2. Historic Representation

Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s cinematography win marked a major milestone for gender representation behind the camera.

3. Career-Defining Performances

Wins for Michael B. Jordan, Jessie Buckley, and Amy Madigan showcased both rising stars and longtime performers receiving overdue recognition.

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📊 Oscars 2026 by the Numbers

• Most Wins: One Battle After Another — 6 awards

• Most Nominations: Sinners — 16 nominations

• Total Categories Awarded: 24

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🌟 What the 2026 Oscars Tell Us About Hollywood

The 98th Academy Awards reflected a film industry in transition. Filmmakers embraced ambitious narratives, genre storytelling gained prestige recognition, and technical artistry received unprecedented attention.

Perhaps most importantly, the ceremony reinforced that audiences and critics alike are hungry for originality — stories that challenge expectations while remaining emotionally grounded.

With bold winners, historic milestones, and unforgettable performances, the Oscars 2026 will likely be remembered as a turning point year — one where tradition met transformation on Hollywood’s biggest stage.