Hollywood’s biggest night delivered big wins, emotional speeches, and a few jaw-dropping surprises, and this year, I had a front-row seat to it all.
The 98th Academy Awards lit up the Dolby Theatre Sunday night, with One Battle After Another emerging as the night’s biggest winner, taking home Best Picture and leading a total haul of six awards. Close behind was Sinners, a history-making contender that walked away with four Oscars after dominating nominations heading into the night.
Hosted once again by Conan O’Brien, the show leaned into humor and spectacle, kicking off with a memorable opening parody of Weapons that had the crowd laughing, and really set the tone for a ceremony that balanced celebration with a few sharp, self-aware jabs at Hollywood itself.
It was a strong year for bold storytelling and visionary directors. Along with Best Picture, One Battle After Another picked up major awards across key categories, including Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for Sean Penn, and gave Paul Thomas Anderson his first statue.
Ryan Coogler won for Best Original Screenplay for his work on Sinners and gave a beautiful acceptance speech.
Sinners, already a record-breaker with its nominations, continued its impressive run, with wins that reflected both critical acclaim and industry support. The audience erupted when Michael B. Jordan was announced as the winner for Best Actor in a Drama. In his speech, he thanked the legendary actors who he called “giants” who came before him, like Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, and Halle Berry.
From emotional acceptance speeches to viral-worthy performances, the night had no shortage of standout moments.
One of the biggest highlights came from a powerful musical performance from Miles Caton of “I Lied to You” from Sinners that brought the audience to its feet. And everyone was given a snack box from Conan O’Brien that also included a light-up globe. The audience was asked to use it during the performance of “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters, which ultimately went on to win Best Original Song and Best Animated Feature for the film.
You could feel the energy shift throughout the night, from nervous anticipation early on to full-on celebration as the biggest awards were handed out. I shared a behind-the-scenes look at the night across my social media, giving you a glimpse of everything from red carpet fashion to candid moments you didn’t see on TV.
This year’s ceremony wasn’t just about trophies; it reflected a changing industry. From the types of stories being recognized to the global influence of filmmaking, the 2026 Oscars highlighted a Hollywood that’s evolving in real time.
Big wins, bold moments, and a few surprises made the 2026 Oscars a night to remember. And from where I was sitting? Hollywood is still putting on one heck of a show. I joined Gary and Shannon to recap the big night and share an inside look at what really goes on behind the scenes.
2026 OSCARS – COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS
Best Picture
One Battle After Another
Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
Best Actor
Cillian Murphy – One Battle After Another
Best Actress
Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners
Best Supporting Actor
Robert Downey Jr. – The Sympathizer
Best Supporting Actress
Da’Vine Joy Randolph – Sinners
Best Original Screenplay
Sinners – Ryan Coogler
Best Adapted Screenplay
One Battle After Another – Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Animated Feature
Inside Out 2
Best International Feature Film
The Zone of Interest – United Kingdom
Best Documentary Feature
20 Days in Mariupol
Best Cinematography
Sinners
Best Film Editing
One Battle After Another
Best Production Design
One Battle After Another
Best Costume Design
Barbie
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Maestro
Best Original Score
Sinners
Best Original Song
“I Lied to You” – Sinners
Best Sound
Dune: Part Two
Best Visual Effects
Dune: Part Two
Best Live Action Short Film
The After
Best Animated Short Film
War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko
Best Documentary Short Film
The Last Repair Shop
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