The 2026 Academy Awards concluded with one film clearly dominating the ceremony. One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, emerged as the biggest winner of the night, collecting six Academy Awards including Best Picture. While several films entered the ceremony with strong momentum, the final results showed that Anderson’s film had widespread support across multiple branches of the Academy.
The ceremony took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and wrapped up an awards season that had been largely defined by the competition between One Battle After Another and the horror film Sinners. In the weeks leading up to the Oscars, Sinners attracted significant attention after earning 16 nominations — the most nominations for a single film in the history of the Academy Awards. However, the final tally showed a different outcome once the envelopes were opened.
One Battle After Another secured six awards during the ceremony, winning in several major categories. Along with Best Picture, Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director for the film, while the screenplay — adapted from existing material — received the award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also took home Best Film Editing and Best Casting, reflecting strong recognition for its overall construction and ensemble work. Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film, although he was not present to accept the award in person.
While One Battle After Another led the night in total wins, Sinners still walked away with several significant awards. The film earned four Oscars, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan. His performance had been widely discussed throughout the awards season and ultimately secured the category’s top honor. Sinners also won Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Score.
One of the most notable moments of the night came with the cinematography award. Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography for her work on Sinners, marking the first time a woman has received the Oscar in that category. The win represented a historic milestone within an area of filmmaking that has traditionally been dominated by male cinematographers.
Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her role in the literary drama Hamnet. Buckley has steadily built a reputation for complex performances across both film and television, and the Oscar win further solidifies her standing among contemporary actors.
The Best Supporting Actress category produced one of the evening’s bigger surprises. Amy Madigan won the award for her role in Weapons, beating several widely predicted contenders. The result reflected the often unpredictable nature of Academy voting, particularly in acting categories where momentum can shift quickly.
Technical and craft categories were spread across a range of films. Frankenstein performed strongly in design-related awards, winning Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design. The film’s elaborate visual style and extensive prosthetic work likely played a major role in its success in those categories.
Avatar: Fire and Ash won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, continuing the franchise’s long-standing reputation for pushing large-scale digital production techniques. Meanwhile, the racing drama F1 received the award for Best Sound, recognizing its technical sound design and mixing.
In animation categories, KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature. The film also claimed Best Original Song for the track “Golden,” giving the project recognition across both music and animation disciplines. The Best Animated Short Film award went to The Girl Who Cried Pearls.
Documentary categories highlighted a mix of political and observational filmmaking. Mr. Nobody Against Putin won Best Documentary Feature, while All the Empty Rooms won Best Documentary Short. These categories often spotlight smaller productions that gain visibility through the awards circuit.
The Best International Feature Film award went to Sentimental Value, continuing the Academy’s growing attention to global cinema and non-English-language storytelling.
Short film categories also recognized smaller productions from across the industry. The Singers, Two People Exchanging Saliva won Best Live-Action Short Film, highlighting a format that often serves as an early platform for emerging filmmakers.
Below is the complete list of winners from the 2026 Academy Awards, in the order the awards were presented during the ceremony:
Best Supporting Actress — Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Best Animated Feature — KPop Demon Hunters
Best Animated Short Film — The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Best Costume Design — Frankenstein
Best Makeup and Hairstyling — Frankenstein
Best Casting — One Battle After Another
Best Live-Action Short Film — The Singers, Two People Exchanging Saliva
Best Supporting Actor — Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
Best Adapted Screenplay — One Battle After Another
Best Original Screenplay — Sinners
Best Production Design — Frankenstein
Best Visual Effects — Avatar: Fire and Ash
Best Documentary Short Film — All the Empty Rooms
Best Documentary Feature Film — Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Best Original Score — Sinners
Best Sound — F1
Best Film Editing — One Battle After Another
Best Cinematography — Sinners (Autumn Durald Arkapaw)
Best International Feature Film — Sentimental Value
Best Original Song — “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters
Best Director — Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Best Actor — Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Best Actress — Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Best Picture — One Battle After Another
With the 2026 Academy Awards now concluded, attention turns toward the next cycle of major film releases expected to compete in the coming awards season. As always, the results offer a snapshot of the industry’s current priorities — balancing large-scale productions, independent storytelling, and international filmmaking within the same awards landscape.
