The 98th Academy Awards are under way at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday (16 March, IST), with Conan O’Brien returning as host for a second year. The event is taking place amid heightened security following ongoing military operations by the United States and Israel in Iran, alongside rising geopolitical tensions.

Two films, ‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After Another’, are leading the field, with the former directed by Ryan Coogler setting a new record with 16 nominations. The latter, helmed by Paul Thomas Anderson, follows with 13 nods, placing both titles firmly in the spotlight.

This year’s presenter line-up includes Priyanka Chopra as well as last year’s winners, Adrien Brody for ‘The Brutalist’, Mikey Madison for ‘Anora’ and Zoe Saldaña for ‘Emilia Pérez’.

Also scheduled to present are Chris Evans, Will Arnett, Chase Infiniti, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Demi Moore and Kumail Nanjiani, rounding out an extensive roster as the industry awaits tonight’s major winners.

The coverage began at 6:30 pm ET (4 am IST). Viewers in the United States can watch the broadcast on ABC and E!. In India, the event will be available to stream on JioHotstar.

Oscars 2026 winners

  • Best Actress in Supporting Role: Amy Madigan for ‘Weapons’

  • Best Animated Feature: ‘K-Pop Demon Hunter’

  • Best Animated Short Film: ‘The Girl Who Cried Pearls'
  • Best Costume Design: Kate Hawley for ‘Frankenstein’
  • Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey for ‘Frankenstein’
  • Best Casting Director: Cassandra Kulukundis for 'One Battle After Another’
  • Best Live Action Short Film: ‘The Singers’ and ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva’ (Tie)
  • Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn
  • Best Original Screenplay: Sinners (By Ryan Coogler)
  • Best Adapted Screenplay: ‘One Battle After Another’ (By Paul Thomas Anderson)
  • 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’ (By Ludwig Göransson)
  • Best Sound: ‘F1’
  • Best Film Editing: ‘One Battle After Another’
  • Best Cinematography: ‘Sinners’
  • Best International Feature Film: ‘Sentimental Value’
  • Best Original Song: Golden (‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’)
  • Best Direction: Paul Thomas Anderson (‘One Battle After Another’)
  • Best Actor In A Leading Role: Michael B Jordan (‘Sinners’)
  • Best Actress In A Leading Role: Jessie Buckley (‘Hamnet’)
  • Best Picture: ‘One Battle After Another’

Sean Penn skips Oscars again

Sean Penn skipped the Oscars on Sunday despite winning best supporting actor for ‘One Battle After Another’. Announcer Kieran Culkin simply noted that Penn “couldn’t be here tonight, or he didn’t want to,” with no further explanation.

His absence is in line with past behaviour: Penn has previously missed the ceremony during nominations for ‘Dead Man Walking’, ‘Sweet and Lowdown’ and ‘I Am Sam’, and he skipped the BAFTA and Actor Awards earlier this year. With no comment from Penn, his no-show appears to reflect his long-standing tendency to avoid major awards appearances.

The win marks Penn’s third Academy Award. The actor did attend when he previously won two Academy Awards for best actor for Clint Eastwood’s 2003 crime drama ‘Mystic River’ and for portraying San Francisco politician and LGBTQ rights pioneer Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant’s 2008 biopic ‘Milk.’

Live Action Short Film ends in rare tie

The Oscars delivered a rare outcome this year as the Live Action Short Film category ended in a tie, only the seventh in the Academy’s history. ‘The Singers’ and ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva’ shared the award, announced by Kumail Nanjiani, who quipped: “Ironic that the short film Oscar is going to take twice as long.” Directors Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata accepted for ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva,’ with Singh speaking on the power of art and creativity.

Ties remain exceptionally uncommon, the last occurred in 2013, when ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ and ‘Skyfall’ shared the sound editing Oscar. One of the most memorable came in 1968, when Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand tied for Best Actress. Under current rules, a tie occurs only when two nominees receive the exact same number of votes.

Oscars honour Rob Reiner, Robert Redford and more in emotional in memoriam

The Oscars’ in memoriam segment this year paid tribute to some of Hollywood’s most influential figures, led by Billy Crystal’s emotional remembrance of his longtime friend Rob Reiner. The extended segment also honoured Robert Redford, introduced by Barbra Streisand, who offered a rare live performance. The presentation featured stars from Reiner’s iconic films and acknowledged other industry legends who died over the past year, including Robert Duvall, Catherine O'Hara and Diane Keaton.

Autumn Durald Arkapaw becomes first woman to win an Oscar for Cinematography

Autumn Durald Arkapaw made Oscars history on Sunday, becoming the first woman to win best cinematography for her work on ‘Sinners’. Arkapaw, previously the first woman of colour ever nominated in the category, was recognised for a film that was already groundbreaking as the first shot on IMAX film by a female cinematographer. Her win follows a small group of past female nominees, including Rachel Morrison, Ari Wegner and Mandy Walker.

Arkapaw, whose credits range from ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ to independent features and music videos, has long spoken about the importance of visibility for women in the craft. Trained at Loyola Marymount University and the American Film Institute, she embraced the challenge of IMAX film after consulting with ‘Oppenheimer’ cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, ultimately combining IMAX and Ultra Panavision 70 for the film’s distinctive look.

Conan O’Brien opens Oscars as Aunt Gladys, takes swipes at AI

Conan O’Brien kicked off the 98th Academy Awards with a quick-fire, self-deprecating opener, appearing in full Aunt Gladys makeup before taking aim at artificial intelligence and Hollywood’s tech anxieties. Taking the stage at the Dolby Theatre for the ABC broadcast, he joked: “I am honored to be the last human host of the Academy Awards… Next year it’s going to be a Waymo in a tux.”

O’Brien teased heightened security and ribbed Timothée Chalamet after his recent arts-related comments, later introducing a gag “Chalamet bum drum” that drew mixed laughs. He also targeted streaming power, taking a swipe at Ted Sarandos for nearly buying Warner Bros., imagining him shouting: “They should be home where I can monetise it!”

The host’s pre-taped opener showed him as Aunt Gladys crashing through scenes from major nominees, including ‘Marty Supreme’ and ‘Hamnet’. A comic fantasy sequence featured Josh Groban serenading him to Handel’s “Zadok the Priest.” With quick ad-libs, including a spoof YouTube-style ad interrupting the show, O’Brien delivered a brisk, crowd-pleasing start to his second year as Oscars host.

Complete list of this year’s nominees

Precursor awards have offered a mixed picture throughout the season. ‘One Battle After Another’ emerged as an early leader after winning Best Picture at the Critics Choice Awards and taking the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture. Its director, Paul Thomas Anderson, also secured Best Director honours at the Golden Globe Awards and the BAFTA. His subsequent win at the Directors Guild of America, historically the most reliable indicator of the Academy’s directing prize, has solidified his position as the frontrunner.

The Producers Guild of America, regarded as the strongest statistical predictor for Best Picture due to its use of the same preferential ballot system as the Oscars, also awarded its top prize to ‘One Battle After Another’, further strengthening the film’s prospects. Even so, the season has been far from a clean sweep, leaving space for competition. Industry observers note that ‘Sinners’ has gained momentum through strong performances in acting and technical categories, alongside an extensive slate of craft nominations.

‘Hamnet’, directed by Chloé Zhao and winner of the Golden Globe Awards prize for Best Drama, is expected to secure at least one award, with Jessie Buckley widely favoured in the Best Actress category. The Best Picture line-up also features titles such as ‘The Secret Agent’ and ‘Sentimental Value’, highlighting the Academy’s increasingly international and genre-embracing voting base.

Several major contests remain closely fought. Best Actor is regarded as one of the night’s most competitive races, with Michael B. Jordan (‘Sinners’), Leonardo DiCaprio (‘One Battle After Another’), Timothée Chalamet (‘Marty Supreme’) and Wagner Moura (‘The Secret Agent’) all in contention. Supporting categories remain fluid, while the screenplay contests may hinge on whether winners at the Writers Guild of America carry their momentum through to Academy ballots.

‘One Battle After Another’ enters the night with a statistical advantage driven by its guild victories and its strong directing trajectory, whereas ‘Sinners’ boasts a record number of nominations and extensive support across technical fields, a combination that often signals broad Academy appeal.