Jessie Buckley won the Best Actress Oscar at the 2026 Academy Awards for her performance in Hamnet, delivering one of the biggest moments of the 98th Oscars held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The victory capped off a night filled with historic wins, major surprises and dominant performances from films like One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Frankenstein.
Buckley’s performance in Hamnet earned widespread critical praise throughout the awards season, and the Academy ultimately rewarded her emotional and powerful role with the top acting honor. She beat out a competitive lineup that included Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, and Emma Stone for Bugonia.
Jessie Buckley’s performance in Hamnet earns Oscar recognition
The Best Actress category is traditionally one of the most closely watched awards at the Oscars, and Buckley’s win was widely celebrated across the film industry. Her portrayal in Hamnet was praised for its emotional depth and quiet intensity, helping the film gain strong attention during the awards season.
The win marks a major milestone in Buckley’s career and places her among the most respected performers working in cinema today. Many critics noted that her performance carried the emotional core of the film and helped elevate Hamnet into one of the year’s most talked-about movies.
One Battle After Another dominates the 2026 Oscars
While Buckley’s Best Actress win became one of the ceremony’s defining moments, the biggest overall winner of the night was One Battle After Another. The film took home the coveted Best Picture award and finished the evening with six Oscars from 13 nominations.
Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director for the film, while it also secured victories for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing. The film’s success confirmed its status as one of the most celebrated projects of the year and reinforced Anderson’s reputation as one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers.
The movie also won the inaugural Oscar for Best Casting, further highlighting the film’s strong ensemble and casting decisions.
Michael B. Jordan wins Best Actor for Sinners
Another headline-making moment came in the Best Actor category, where Michael B. Jordan won for his performance in Sinners. Jordan played twin characters in the film, delivering a demanding performance that impressed both audiences and critics.
The Best Actor race included major names such as Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
Sinners had one of the strongest nights overall, entering the ceremony with a record-setting 16 nominations. The film ultimately won four Oscars including Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Cinematography.
Historic cinematography win for Autumn Durald Arkapaw
The Oscars also delivered an important moment of history in cinematography. Autumn Durald Arkapaw won the award for her work on Sinners, becoming the first woman ever to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography.
The achievement marked a milestone for representation behind the camera and became one of the most widely discussed moments of the ceremony.
Major wins across technical and craft categories
Several other films also enjoyed strong nights at the 2026 Academy Awards. Frankenstein emerged as a standout in technical categories, winning three Oscars including Best Production Design, Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Meanwhile, the blockbuster racing film F1: The Movie won the Oscar for Best Sound, showcasing the film’s impressive audio production and immersive racing sequences.
Visual effects honors went to Avatar: Fire and Ash, continuing the franchise’s tradition of dominating the category with groundbreaking digital effects.
KPop Demon Hunters wins big in animation and music
The animated film KPop Demon Hunters became one of the evening’s most popular winners. The movie won Best Animated Feature and also secured the Best Original Song Oscar for “Golden.”
The film defeated other nominees including Elio, Zootopia 2, Arco and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, showing the growing influence of international storytelling and music-driven animated projects.
Documentary and international film winners
The Best Documentary Feature award went to Mr. Nobody Against Putin, a film that drew attention for its powerful storytelling and global political relevance.
In the Best International Feature Film category, Norway’s Sentimental Value took the Oscar, beating films from France, Brazil, Spain and Tunisia.
The Best Documentary Short award went to All the Empty Rooms, while The Girl Who Cried Pearls won the Oscar for Best Animated Short.
Rare tie marks one of the night’s biggest surprises
One of the most unusual moments of the ceremony came in the Best Live-Action Short category, where two films shared the award. Both The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva were named winners.
The result marked the seventh tie in Oscars history since the awards began in 1929. The last tie occurred in 2013 when Skyfall and Zero Dark Thirty shared the Oscar for sound editing.
Supporting acting awards
Sean Penn won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in One Battle After Another, beating nominees including Benicio Del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Delroy Lindo and Stellan Skarsgård.
The Best Supporting Actress award went to Amy Madigan for her performance in Weapons, adding another memorable moment to the ceremony.
A memorable night for Hollywood
The 2026 Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, celebrated the year’s most influential films while delivering historic milestones and unforgettable moments. With major wins for One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Frankenstein, the ceremony reflected a wide range of filmmaking styles and storytelling approaches.
However, the headline that defined the night remained Jessie Buckley’s victory. Her Best Actress win for Hamnet ensured that the film — and her powerful performance — will remain a lasting part of Oscar history.
For more details about the Academy Awards and official results, readers can explore the Academy’s website at Oscars.org. Additional entertainment coverage and award updates are also available through USA Today Entertainment.
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