The 98th Academy Awards officially kicked off on March 16, 2026, at the iconic Dolby Theatre, celebrating the best films and cinematic achievements of 2025. The prestigious ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, honors excellence across 24 competitive categories in filmmaking.
One of the biggest highlights of the night was cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw making history by becoming the first Black woman to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography. She received the award for her work on the film Sinners, beating other nominees including Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, and Train Dreams.
In the Best Sound category, the team of Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, and Juan Peralta won the Oscar for their work on F1. Other films nominated in the category included Sinners, Sirat, and Frankenstein.
Composer Ludwig Göransson won the Oscar for Best Original Score for Sinners, continuing the film’s strong performance at the awards.
In the documentary category, Mr. Nobody Against Putin won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, while All the Empty Rooms received the award for Best Documentary Short Film.
The Best Visual Effects award went to the team behind Avatar: Fire and Ash. The award was presented by actors Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver.
Meanwhile, Frankenstein secured the Oscar for Best Production Design, marking another major win for the film.
Director Ryan Coogler won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Sinners, while acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Adapted Screenplay for One Battle After Another.
In the acting category, veteran actor Sean Penn won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in One Battle After Another.
In a rare moment at the ceremony, the Best Live Action Short Film category ended in a tie, with both The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva sharing the award.
The star-studded event also saw global celebrity appearances, including Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, who attended the ceremony together and drew attention on the red carpet.
The 98th Academy Awards continues to celebrate the year’s most outstanding achievements in cinema, bringing together filmmakers, actors, and artists from across the world for one of Hollywood’s biggest nights.