Oscars 2026: ‘One Battle After Another’ wins Best Picture as ‘Sinners’ makes history

The 98th Academy Awards delivered a memorable night of cinematic triumphs, historic wins and powerful speeches, with One Battle After Another emerging as the evening’s biggest winner while Sinners made history with groundbreaking achievements.

In a tightly contested race, director Paul Thomas Anderson’s political drama One Battle After Another took home the coveted Best Picture award, capping off a dominant night for the film. The movie, which follows a washed-up revolutionary confronting his past to protect his daughter, collected six Oscars in total, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Anderson.

While One Battle After Another claimed the top prize, Ryan Coogler’s genre-blending thriller Sinners proved to be one of the ceremony’s most talked-about films. The vampire period drama, rooted in the cultural history of Blues music and the American South, won four Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan.

The film also made history when cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman and first woman of colour to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography, marking a milestone moment for representation behind the camera.

A Ceremony Mixing Celebration and Commentary

Hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien, the ceremony balanced humour with commentary on the changing film industry. O’Brien’s monologue touched on artificial intelligence, the rise of digital creators and Hollywood’s evolving production landscape, setting a reflective yet upbeat tone for the evening.

Throughout the night, several presenters and winners used the global stage to share political and social messages. Actor Javier Bardem called for an end to global conflicts and advocated for peace, while filmmakers and guests spoke about issues ranging from free speech to gun violence.

Emotional Tributes and Historic Moments

One of the ceremony’s most emotional segments came during the In Memoriam tribute. Veteran entertainer Billy Crystal honoured director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, while actress Rachel McAdams paid tribute to beloved performers lost over the past year. Legendary singer and actress Barbra Streisand also delivered a heartfelt tribute to her longtime friend and former co-star Robert Redford.

Another historic moment came when the song Golden from the film KPop Demon Hunters became the first K-pop track ever to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Other Major Wins

Among the evening’s standout performances, Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, completing a remarkable awards-season sweep. Meanwhile, Sean Penn earned his third career Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, although the veteran actor was notably absent to accept the award in person.

A Night to Remember

With its mix of artistic triumphs, historic milestones and cultural commentary, the 2026 Oscars celebrated both Hollywood’s legacy and its evolving future. While One Battle After Another claimed the night’s biggest honour, Sinners left an undeniable mark on Academy Awards history — proving that the competition at this year’s ceremony produced not one, but two defining films of the year.