Conan O’Brien hosted the 98th Academy Awards, where both established stars and new talents received the famous Golden Statuette. This year’s ceremony marked several historic moments, including the first woman to win an award for Best Cinematography and the first Irish actress to win Best Actress. Overall, the event honored the most outstanding films, acting, and creative work from the past year.
The 2026 Oscars were filled with memorable wins, moving speeches, and a few unexpected moments. The show kicked off with a funny segment where O’Brien playfully reenacted the famous ending of Weapons, even chasing after some kids. Between a touching reunion of cast members from a well-loved movie and sincere tributes, these were the highlights of the night.
KPop Demon Hunters Makes Academy Awards History
Maggie Kang and Michelle Wong achieved a historic milestone at the 98th Academy Awards, becoming the first women of Asian descent to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar. Their film has been incredibly popular since its June 2025 release, breaking records as Netflix’s most-watched film ever and also earning the title of Best Animated Film at both the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards.
In her acceptance speech, Kang spoke about how important the film was for showing Korean people on screen. She admitted it took too long for this kind of representation to happen, but celebrated that it was finally here. She expressed hope that future generations wouldn’t have to wait so long to see themselves reflected in movies, dedicating the film to Koreans around the world.
Later that night, the movie really cemented its place in history by winning Best Original Song – a first for K-pop! The song, Golden, performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, was a massive hit, actually topping the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks straight in 2025. It was a record-breaker, not just for animated films, but for K-pop music too, which as a movie and music fan, was amazing to see!
The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva Tie for Live Action Short
The winners of the competition were two films: The Singers, directed by Sam A. Davis, and Two People Exchanging Saliva, directed by Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh. This outcome was a surprise to many.
Throughout the history of the Academy Awards, there have been very few ties. Only six have occurred. The first was in 1932, when Fredric March (for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) and Wallace Beery (for The Champ) shared the Best Actor award. The most recent tie happened in 2013 for Sound Editing, with both Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty receiving the honor. The only other tie occurred in the Live Action Short category in 1995, with Trevor and Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life both winning.
Rachel McAdams Pays Tribute to Diane Keaton
At this year’s In Memoriam segment, Rachel McAdams honored Diane Keaton, calling her a timeless legend and someone who excelled in many different roles. The tribute was a moving experience for those watching, especially fans of Keaton’s work.
Rachel McAdams and Diane Keaton acted as mother and daughter in a 2005 film, and later appeared together in the 2010 comedy Morning Glory. McAdams also paid tribute to Catherine O’Hara, describing the beloved Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek actress as a remarkably funny performer who always stole the show. The moment highlighted the enduring legacy of both actresses in Hollywood.
Barbra Streisand Pays Tribute to Robert Redford
After a performance by McAdams, Barbra Streisand came on stage to honor a close friend. It was a touching moment for everyone watching, as Streisand spoke about their long friendship, which started while filming the 1973 movie The Way We Were.
The acclaimed actor received his first Oscar in 1981 for directing the film Ordinary People. He was later honored with a special Academy Award in 2002, presented by Barbra Streisand, who concluded her touching tribute by performing “The Way We Were.”
Bridesmaids Cast Reunite for Best Score Announcement
Rumors had been circulating about a possible reunion, but it wasn’t official until Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, and Ellie Kemper appeared on stage to present the award for Best Original Score. The appearance was a delightful surprise for both the audience and those watching at home, as the five actresses celebrated their popular movie with a series of funny skits.
The show started with the cast reading fake notes that were supposedly from other people at the Oscars. Maya Rudolph read one that said, “First of all, you ladies look extremely beautiful tonight… You’re all aging well,” and it was signed by Stellan Skarsgård. The camera then showed Skarsgård in the audience, nodding along in agreement.
Following the Best Original Score award, the cast returned to the stage to present Best Sound. They playfully highlighted how crucial sound design is to movies. Rudolph joked about questioning the value of sound while counting her earnings, and Byrne shared that she couldn’t follow a game in Marty Supreme when watching it with the volume off. Fifteen years after receiving their own Academy Award nominations, the cast offered a fun and relaxed moment during the ceremony.
All the Empty Rooms Takes A Stand Against Gun Violence
As host Conan O’Brien predicted at the beginning of the show, the 98th Academy Awards included some political commentary. A particularly moving and emotional moment occurred when the winner of Best Documentary Short gave their acceptance speech.
The documentary, created by Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones, features a journalist and photographer who honor the memory of children lost in school shootings by documenting their bedrooms. During the award ceremony, one mother, whose daughter Jackie was a victim of gun violence, spoke out against it.
She described the girl’s bedroom as if it hadn’t changed since she died. She emphasized that the girl was more than just a news story – she was deeply loved and cherished. The speaker highlighted the tragic reality that gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teenagers, and suggested that if people truly understood the impact of these tragedies – like seeing the empty rooms left behind – the country would respond differently.
Sinners’ Autumn Durald Arkapaw Becomes First Woman to Win Best Cinematography
The 98th Academy Awards marked a historic win as Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman to ever win the Best Cinematography Oscar. Known for her work on films like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and as the director of photography for Sinners, Durald is just the fourth woman to be nominated for the award, and the first woman of color to achieve this honor.
During her speech thanking the film’s cast and crew, Durald also recognized the women in the audience, acknowledging her gratitude for their support. Before the Oscars, she’d already won several awards for her cinematography in Sinners and received nominations from the BAFTAs, Critics’ Choice Awards, and the American Society of Cinematographers.
Jessie Buckley Makes Academy History and Wins Best Actress for Hamnet
The 98th Academy Awards saw many historic moments, including Jessie Buckley becoming the first Irish woman to win Best Actress. She received the award for her performance in Hamnet, a film where she plays William Shakespeare’s wife. The movie tells the story of the family’s sorrow following the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, an event that is believed to have inspired Shakespeare’s famous play, Hamlet.
During her acceptance speech, Buckley expressed gratitude to her fellow nominees, sharing that she was inspired by them and hoped to collaborate with each one. She also thanked her parents, her husband Freddie Sorensen, and director Chloé Zhao, and then dedicated the award to “the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart.”
Buckley won her first Oscar, beating out strong competition from Rose Byrne (for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), and Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value). The win is a significant moment for Irish women in film, following previous nominations for Saoirse Ronan and Ruth Negga.
Michael B. Jordan Wins Best Actor for Sinners
Okay, so Sinners didn’t quite sweep the awards like everyone predicted – it got four out of a massive sixteen nominations! But honestly, the Best Actor category was intense. It was a real toss-up between some incredible performances – Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Ethan Hawke, and Wagner Moura were all seriously good, and anyone could have won, really. It was one of those races that kept you on the edge of your seat!
Ryan Coogler’s film, Sinners, stars Michael Jordan as identical twins, Smoke and Stack. The brothers return to their hometown of Mississippi hoping to start a blues club, but their plans are complicated when they encounter Remmick (Jack O’Connell), a vampire with a passion for music.
Jordan is now just the second actor ever to win an Oscar for playing twins, following Lee Marvin’s win in the 1965 film Cat Ballou. While Jordan had already received several awards for this performance, including one from the Actor Awards, an Oscar wasn’t guaranteed, making this win particularly special.
One Battle After Another Leads the Night and Wins Best Picture
This critically acclaimed film, nominated for 13 awards and winner of multiple Oscars including Best Picture, is a darkly comedic thriller directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It features a stellar cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, and Regina Hall. The story centers on a rebel fighting against the American government, whose life is turned upside down when his daughter disappears, forcing him to confront his own hidden history.
The film received six Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn), Best Casting (Cassandra Kulukundis), Best Director (Anderson), Best Film Editing (Andy Jurgensen), Best Adapted Screenplay (Anderson), and Best Picture. This marks Anderson’s first Oscar win, after previously being nominated 14 times for films like Boogie Nights, Licorice Pizza, and There Will Be Blood.
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2026-03-16 15:10