The 98th Academy Awards ceremony took place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, bringing the awards season to a close with a night full of unexpected turns. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the event broadcast on ABC and Hulu and delivered historic firsts, a rare tie, and some heartbreaking losses for films that entered the night as strong favorites. While Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominated with six wins, including Best Picture, and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners took home four awards, several major contenders and beloved stars walked away empty-handed.
The Best Actor Shocker: Michael B. Jordan Wins Over Timothée Chalamet
The most talked-about moment of the night was undoubtedly the Best Actor race. Pre-ceremony odds from betting markets and expert polls had shown Timothée Chalamet as the frontrunner with roughly 52 percent support for his role in Marty Supreme. Chalamet had also swept the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, making his path to the Oscar seem almost certain.
However, in a twist that surprised many, Michael B. Jordan took home the award for his performance in Sinners. It was Jordan’s first Oscar nomination and win. During his acceptance speech, Jordan paid homage to the actors who paved the way for him.
“I stand here because of the people that came before me: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forrest Whitaker, Will Smith,” Jordan said.
The loss was especially stinging for Chalamet, marking his third Oscar defeat following nominations for Call Me By Your Name in 2018 and A Complete Unknown in 2025. His film, Marty Supreme, received nine nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Josh Safdie, but failed to win a single category, making it one of the biggest losers of the evening.
Adding to the night’s awkwardness for the actor, host Conan O’Brien made jokes referencing Chalamet’s past comments about ballet and opera being dying arts, joking that security was on alert for attacks from those communities.
Historic Wins for Women and Horror
Despite the disappointment for some, the night was marked by significant milestones. Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history by winning Best Cinematography for Sinners, becoming the first woman ever to win an Oscar in that category.
In another breakthrough moment, veteran actor Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her role in the horror film Weapons. This win came 40 years after her first nomination and is considered a rare recognition for the horror genre, which the Academy has often overlooked.
The ceremony also introduced a new category, Best Casting, for the first time. Cassandra Kulukundis won the inaugural award for One Battle After Another, pulling off an upset against Francine Maisler, who was heavily favored for Sinners.
A Rare Tie Shocks the Audience
One of the most genuinely surprising moments came during the Best Live Action Short Film category. Presenter Kumail Nanjiani announced a tie between The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva. Nanjiani kept his cool, telling the confused audience to remain calm and focus up as he announced the winners.
“It’s a tie. I’m not joking. It’s actually a tie,” Nanjiani said.
This marks only the seventh tie in the history of the Academy Awards, which date back to 1929. The most recent tie before this was in 2013 for Sound Editing between Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty.
Major Films and Favorites That Went Home Empty-Handed
Aside from Marty Supreme, several other Best Picture nominees had a rough night. Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia, starring Emma Stone, received nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress, Original Score, and Original Screenplay but failed to secure any wins. Netflix’s Train Dreams also struck out despite nominations for Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, and Cinematography. Kleber Mendonca Filho’s The Secret Agent, a double winner at the Cannes Film Festival, left without a trophy despite four nominations, including Best Picture and Best International Feature.
In the acting categories, Delroy Lindo was considered a frontrunner for Best Supporting Actor for Sinners but lost to Sean Penn for One Battle After Another. Sean Penn’s win made him the fourth man in history to win three acting Oscars, joining Jack Nicholson, Walter Brennan, and Daniel Day-Lewis. However, his absence led to a humorous moment when Kieran Culkin accepted on his behalf, saying Penn could not be there this evening, or did not want to.
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In Memoriam Omissions and Other Ceremony Moments
The annual In Memoriam segment, which honors those in the industry who passed away, drew attention for who was left out. While the segment was praised for heartfelt tributes from Billy Crystal to his friends Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner, the televised portion omitted several names, including Eric Dane, James Van Der Beek, and Robert Carradine. These names were later listed on the official Oscars website.
Other lighthearted moments included Conan O’Brien‘s running jokes, a Bridesmaids cast reunion for the film’s 15th anniversary, and a red carpet full of bold fashion choices, including the look-at-me brooches worn by actors like Pedro Pascal and Adrien Brody. Leonardo DiCaprio also played along with O’Brien’s monologue, bringing a date other than his mother, which drew laughs from the audience.
One Battle After Another led the tally with six Oscars, including Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn. Sinners followed with four, including Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler and Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan. Frankenstein took home three technical awards for Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Production Design.
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