Oscars 2026 winners announced: full list and key takeaways

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At the Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another took top honors, upending expectations set by Ryan Coogler’s record-nominated Sinners. The night mixed industry milestones with mainstream surprises—an animated K-pop anthem won Best Original Song, while a longtime composer claimed Best Original Score.

The awards arrived after a season in which Sinners led the pack with a record 16 nominations. That sweep translated into some major wins—including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan and Best Cinematography—but it did not carry the film to Best Picture or Best Director, both of which went to Anderson’s film.

Big wins and notable upsets

One Battle After Another emerged as the ceremony’s big narrative: Best Picture, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing were among its prizes. The film’s combined haul reinforced Anderson’s status during awards season and underscored critics’ and peers’ continued appetite for ambitious auteur filmmaking.

Meanwhile, Sinners converted its record nominations into key technical and performance awards—most visibly Michael B. Jordan’s Best Actor victory and an Oscar for Best Cinematography—yet fell short in the night’s two most sought-after trophies.

Acting, music and craft highlights

Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, and Sean Penn took Best Supporting Actor for his performance in One Battle After Another. In supporting actress, Amy Madigan claimed the statuette for Weapons.

Music was a mixed bag of mainstream and auteur recognition. “Golden”, performed by Huntr/x, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami from the animated hit KPop Demon Hunters, won Best Original Song, beating contenders that included a track from Sinners and a piece by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner. Ludwig Göransson picked up the Oscar for Best Original Score for his work on Sinners, adding a high-profile honor to the film’s tally.

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 Song: “Golden” — Huntr/x, Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami (KPop Demon Hunters)

Best Original Score: Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)

Best Animated Feature: KPop Demon Hunters

Best Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash

The ceremony’s tone was shaped by host Conan O’Brien, who opened with a theatrical comedy sequence and several self-deprecating stunts that set a playful pace early in the broadcast.

Craft categories and surprises

Frankenstein fared strongly in design and makeup, winning Best Production Design, Best Costume Design and Best Hair and Makeup. F1 took Best Sound, while Avatar: Fire and Ash earned Best Visual Effects—an expected nod for a large-scale effects production.

In a rare occurrence, the Academy recognized two winners in the Best Live-Action Short category: The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva, an outcome that punctuated an evening full of both predictable results and genuine surprises.

What this means going forward

The results sharpen a few industry trends. Auteur cinema reclaimed the top awards even as commercially minded and pop-culture-driven projects—animated franchises and K-pop influenced music—made visible gains. The split between nomination dominance and final wins for Sinners also highlights how Academy voting can separate technical recognition and performance awards from the ultimate prizes.

For filmmakers and studios, the ceremony reaffirmed that awards season momentum still matters but does not always guarantee Best Picture or Best Director. For audiences, the mix of mainstream and art-house winners signals a widening field of films that can break through during awards attention.

Selected full winners (high-level)

Best Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another

Best Original Screenplay: Sinners

Best Animated Short: The Girl Who Cried Pearls

Best Documentary Feature: Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Best Documentary Short: All the Empty Rooms

Best Casting: One Battle After Another

Best Film Editing: One Battle After Another

Below the headline winners, the evening distributed accolades across a wide array of films—technical, craft and genre entries all found recognition—reflecting a voting body that rewarded both traditional filmmaking achievement and contemporary cultural moments.