The 2026 Academy Awards have officially concluded at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre, and if you placed your bets on an even spread of trophies, you might want to check your wallet. With Conan O’Brien as host, the awards proved to be a night of sweeping victories, long-overdue recognition, and a few notable silences for some of the year’s most talked-about films.
Here is the breakdown of who took home the gold, who ruled the technical categories, and who left empty-handed.
The Big Sweep: ‘One Battle After Another’
The night undeniably belonged to One Battle After Another. Taking home a massive six awards, the film cemented its place in cinematic history by securing the coveted Best Picture title.
Perhaps the most satisfying moment for film purists was seeing Paul Thomas Anderson finally claim the Best Director prize, along with Best Adapted Screenplay. While Leonardo DiCaprio missed out on the Best Actor trophy, his co-star Sean Penn secured Best Supporting Actor. The film also dominated the foundational elements of filmmaking, picking up wins for Best Film Editing and Best Casting.
A Sizzling Second Place for ‘Sinners’
If One Battle After Another was the undisputed heavyweight champion, Sinners was the formidable challenger that refused to back down. Ryan Coogler’s visionary project walked away with four major wins.
Michael B. Jordan took home Best Actor, adding a significant milestone to his career. The film also triumphed in Best Cinematography and Best Score, proving its audiovisual impact was impossible to ignore. Coogler himself earned the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, solidifying the film’s narrative brilliance.
Leading Ladies and International Triumphs
The Best Actress race was one of the most closely watched of the season, and Jessie Buckley ultimately emerged victorious for her compelling performance in Hamnet. Meanwhile, the Best Supporting Actress category saw Amy Madigan take the honour for Weapons, beating out a highly competitive field.
On the global stage, Norway’s Sentimental Value captured the award for Best International Feature. It was a well-deserved win for a film that has steadily built momentum on the international festival circuit.
The Technical Marvels
When it came to building entirely new worlds, Frankenstein was the undisputed champion of the craft categories. The film secured three awards, sweeping Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
In the digital realm, Avatar: Fire and Ash continued the franchise’s legacy by winning Best Visual Effects, while the adrenaline-pumping F1 took home the award for Best Sound. On the animated front, KPop: Demon Hunters proved to be a dual threat, winning both Best Animated Feature and Best Song for the undeniably catchy “Golden.”
The Snubs: Who Went Home Empty-Handed?
Award season is a zero-sum game, and the 2026 ceremony left several highly praised titles completely shut out.
Despite heavy campaigning and critical acclaim, Marty Supreme failed to convert any of its nominations into wins, leaving stars like Timothée Chalamet waiting for their next chance at Oscar glory. Other major titles that walked the red carpet but missed the podium included Train Dreams, Bugonia, The Secret Agent, and Song Sung Blue.
The 2026 Oscars will be remembered as the year the Academy decisively chose its favourites. It was a night of bold statements, crowning a new modern classic while leaving plenty of room for debate about the films that missed the cut.
