A number of worthy performers have won the coveted golden trophy at the 98th Academy Awards, one of the most anticipated nights in film history.
On March 15, 2026, the 98th Academy Awards, Hollywood’s largest celebration of film, took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It was a night of historic victories, heartfelt speeches, and unforgettable moments.
Comedian Conan O’Brien hosted the event, which honored the top movies of the year and had significant surprises, historic wins, and stirring performances. The event started on Sunday night in the US (early Monday am in India) and was broadcast live on JioHotstar for Indian audiences.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which won six Oscars, including the coveted Best Picture, was the night’s greatest winner. With 16 nominations, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners was the most nominated movie. Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor, among other notable honors.
The night’s biggest victories
Director Paul Thomas Anderson, who also took up Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, achieved a significant career milestone when One Battle After Another won the evening’s top prize, Best Picture.
Anderson made light of the difficult path to victory as he accepted the directing trophy.
“You force a man to put forth a lot of effort for one of these. Thank you for that. “I’m here because of people’s faith in me,” he continued, reflecting on the collaborative nature of filmmaking. The best thing about working on a film team is that they offer you their time and trust.
The movie was the most decorated movie of the evening after winning Best Supporting Actor (Sean Penn), Best Film Editing, and the recently added Best Casting award.
Michael B. Jordan Receives His First Oscar
One of the most emotional moments of the night came when Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for Sinners, where he played twin brothers facing both supernatural and historical dangers.
Jordan honored the actors that inspired him in his winning speech. “I am here because of my predecessors: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Halle Berry, Sidney Poitier, and Denzel Washington.”
“I’m going to keep stepping up and being the best version of myself I can be,” he said emotionally. Jordan was nominated for and won his first Oscar.
Best Actress goes to Jessie Buckley
Jessie Buckley won the Best Actress Oscar for her compelling performance in Hamnet. During her remarks, Buckley dedicated her honor to mothers. “I want to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart because today is Mother’s Day in the UK.”
Her portrayal of a bereaved mother in the Shakespearean play was long regarded as one of the year’s best.
Moments of History and Firsts
A number of important milestones were also delivered during the ceremony.
The most significant was when Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first female Oscar winner for Best Cinematography for Sinners. She called on the women in the audience to rise during a stirring moment on stage. She remarked, “I wouldn’t be here without you guys.”
The addition of the Best Casting category, which was won by Cassandra Kulukundis for One Battle After Another, was another first for the Oscars.
Even the presenter was taken aback when “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” both won the Oscar in the Live-Action Short Film category, creating a rare tie.
Fun and Memorable Moments on Stage
With a lively opening monologue full of jokes about the nominated movies, host Conan O’Brien established the tone for the evening.
A hilarious opening montage featuring O’Brien riding alongside characters from One Battle After Another, racing across an F1 track, and making a brief appearance in Sinners was one of the most talked-about parts.
The KPop Demon Hunters’ rendition of “Golden” was another standout. Celebrities in the audience waved light sticks like fans at a K-pop concert during the exuberant stage performance. Later on, the song was awarded Best Original Song.
Many attendees were clearly moved by the ceremony’s heartfelt In Memoriam segment, which honored iconic movie stars including Robert Redford and Robert Duvall.
A number of international celebrities, including Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Nicole Kidman, and Ewan McGregor, attended the ceremony. Indian actress Priyanka Chopra also came in a white Dior gown and presented an award alongside Javier Bardem.
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