The 2026 Oscars delivered an exceptional award show once again. On March 15, the Dolby Theatre held its 98th Academy Awards hosted by Conan O’Brien, in Hollywood, California. The event had several remarkable wins in many categories such as Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor/Actress, Screenplay, Cinematography, and animated/live-action shorts. There were a total of 24 awards presented with this year’s biggest winner being “One Battle After Another.” The 2025 film won Best Picture and six other Oscars. Its thrilling plot captivated audiences and dominated the competition.
One of the most highlighted wins was Best Actor which was awarded to Micheal B. Jordan for his main role in “Sinners.” This award was especially important as it was Jordan’s first Oscar nomination and win, which even beat out renowned actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothee Chalamet. In his speech, he emphasized other famous Black actors who came before him that won the award. As he mentioned these people, he took time to thank “his ancestors” as he would not have been there without them. From the same film, Autumn Durald Arkapaw won the Oscar for Best Cinematography becoming the first woman and Black person to do so.
Additionally, the famous animated movie, “KPop Demon Hunters,” won two awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. The film’s success not only highlighted South Korea’s breakthrough in global entertainment but also an international shift towards more diverse animation styles. The film appears to have won these awards through its strong cultural impact on society. Through its song “Golden,” the movie became a cultural phenomenon. However, during the composer EJAE’s speech, she was abruptly cut off from the orchestra which led to an upset reaction among many viewers.
Moreover, the award show consisted of several snubs (when a critically acclaimed film, actor or director is overlooked and fails to receive a nomination). The most shocking snub was for the movie “Wicked: For Good.” Due to its wild popularity, many expected a few wins or at least nominations, but none were given. The most notable snubs were found in the Best Supporting Actor/Actress Category. Both Ariana Grande (“Wicked: For Good”) and Paul Mescal (“Hamnet”) were expected to at least receive nominations, but neither occurred.
Despite a few letdowns, the Oscars proved for the 98th time that they were able to celebrate and showcase top industry talent within artistic entertainment. This year’s Oscars signified new trends within popular films and fresh talent globally. As more boundaries are broken, it highlighted the potential the entertainment industry carries for the next generation.
