Awards season formally got here to an finish with the 2026 Oscars delivering an unforgettable ceremony.
Hollywood’s brightest stars traveled to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, to take a break from the heavy information surrounding the world and attempt to rejoice the very best in motion pictures.
“If I could be severe for only a second, everybody watching proper now around the globe is all too conscious that these are very chaotic, horrifying occasions,” host Conan O’Brien acknowledged in his opening monologue. “It’s at moments like these that I imagine that the Oscars are notably resonant. Thirty-one nations throughout six continents are represented this night, and each movie we salute is the product of 1000’s of individuals talking totally different languages, working exhausting to make one thing of magnificence.”
The previous late-night host added, “Allow us to rejoice not as a result of we expect all is nicely, however as a result of we work and hope for higher within the days forward.”
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In case you missed the reside telecast, Us Weekly is breaking down the finest and worst moments from the 98th Academy Awards. Preserve studying to see what popular culture followers will likely be speaking about lengthy after the present is over.
Greatest Dealing with of an Oscars Tie: Kumail Nanjiani
Presenter Kumail Nanjiani was visibly stunned when he opened the envelope for Greatest Dwell Motion Brief Movie and found there have been two winners.
“And the Oscar goes to – it’s a tie. I’m not joking. It’s really a tie,” Nanjiani advised the viewers. “Everybody settle down. We’re going to get by this. Focus up. Stay calm. I’m going to call one winner, they’ll come up, settle for their award and I’ll come again and identify one other winner and so they’ll settle for their award. OK? Right here we go. One Oscar goes to The Singers.”
The presenter — who clearly attended rehearsals — later introduced Two Individuals Exchanging Saliva have been additionally winners.
Greatest Jokes Concerning the Way forward for the Oscars: Conan O’Brien
In his opening monologue, host Conan O’Brien poked enjoyable on the information that the Oscars will start airing solely on YouTube beginning in 2029.
“Yeah, it’s the longer term. Sure, it’s a giant change. Some persons are fearful this may change how the Oscars are seen, however I’ve been assured that,” he stated earlier than a mock industrial of Jane Lynch promoting a flashlight interrupted his thought. “I’m sorry about that, however, like I stated, I don’t suppose this may change the Oscars in any respect. I feel …”
As one other mock industrial interrupted O’Brien’s thought, the message was clear: This yr’s host needs the present to stay on community TV.
Greatest Props: Channing Tatum’s ‘Magic Mike’ Thong
Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans
Kevin Winter/Getty PhotosEarlier than Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans introduced the winner for Greatest Unique Screenplay, the pair determined to rejoice a serious anniversary of their profession.
“Downey, what did you get me for our anniversary? It’s the 14th anniversary of the primary Avengers movie,” Evans shared. “I obtained you a signed copy of the script. It’s backstage, from the desk learn. The entire solid signed it. I actually thought this by.”
Whereas Downey initially joked that each one he had was a valet ticket, the actor got here by with an surprising current.
“In fact I obtained you one thing,” he advised Evans. “I obtained you the official Channing Tatum thong from Magic Mike. It’s sequin, obtained a mirrorball impact, gentle utilization.”
If that wasn’t adequate, the digicam then panned to Tatum within the viewers, who shouted, “Hey, I’m going to wish that again although. I started working later.”
Greatest Presentation of a New Class: Paul Mescal, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chase Infiniti, Wagner Moura and Delroy Lindo
For the primary time ever, voters have been in a position to choose a winner for a brand-new award titled Greatest Casting.
To introduce the brand new class, 5 presenters appeared onstage to rejoice the casting administrators who helped give them an unimaginable job alternative.
“The 5 of us on this stage are actually honored to be presenting the first-ever Oscar for achievement in casting,” Paul Mescal shared earlier than Cassandra Kulukundis of One Battle After One other was introduced because the winner.
Greatest Film Reunion: The Solid of ‘Bridesmaids’
Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph Ellie Kemper
Patrick T. Fallon / AFPAlmost 15 years after Bridesmaids hit the massive display screen, solid members Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne and Ellie Kemper reunited to current the awards for Greatest Sound and Unique Rating.
“You realize, earlier at present once I was counting my cash, I requested myself, ‘What’s sound, actually?’” Rudolph stated. “Am I proper?”
McCarthy replied, “It’s a thriller, Maya. They’ve requested scientists. Now we have the very best on the planet, together with Steven Spielberg. Even he doesn’t know. As soon as once more, I discovered myself upset in you, Steven.”
In an interview with Leisure Tonight earlier than showtime, Bridesmaids director Paul Feig revealed Wendi McLendon-Covey was not displaying up due to scheduling points. “She may even be touring, I’m unsure,” he shared. “However we are going to miss her terribly as a result of I really like Wendi.”
Greatest Acceptance Speech: Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan
Kevin Winter/Getty PhotosThough the Greatest Actor race was neck-and-neck with Michael B. Jordan and Timothée Chalametthe Academy voters in the end selected Jordan to obtain the trophy for his position in Sinners.
“Man, God is nice. Mama, what’s up? You know the way I really feel about my mom,” Jordan joked as he accepted his award. “Pops, the place you at? My dad flew in from Ghana to be right here. My brother and sister are right here too.”
The Oscar winner additionally expressed gratitude for the actors who got here earlier than him and allowed his goals to turn into a actuality.
“I stand right here due to the those who got here earlier than me: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith,” he shared. “To be amongst these giants, these greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys, thanks all people on this room and all people at dwelling for supporting me over my profession. I really feel it.”
Worst No-Present: Sean Penn
Whereas a few of Us gave Sean Penn a little bit of grace when he was lacking from the SAG’s 2026 Actor Awards as he gained Excellent Efficiency by a Male Actor in a Supporting Function, we couldn’t assist however discover he was additionally lacking from the 2026 Oscars.
When the One Battle After One other star gained for Greatest Actor in a Supporting Function, he was nowhere to be discovered on the present as soon as once more. (Based on the New York InstancesPenn was planning to go to Ukraine.)
“Sean Penn couldn’t be right here this night or didn’t need to,” presenter Kieran Culkin stated. “I’ll be accepting the award on his behalf.”
Worst Interrupted Speech: ‘Two Individuals Exchanging Saliva’
Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh
Kevin Winter/Getty PhotosAs Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh accepted their awards for Greatest Dwell Motion Brief Movie, viewers have been caught off guard when the mic was lower off and the digicam turned to host Conan O’Brien as a substitute of the winners talking onstage.
Whereas Singh was in a position to end his speech, O’Brien acknowledged the error instantly after.
“I do know we’re tight,” he stated, “however you retract a microphone on a person when he’s talking is hilarious.”
Worst Use of the Play Off Music: ‘Frankenstein’
Whereas so a lot of Us love when an awards present tries to remain on time, viewers weren’t too impressed when the music started taking part in loudly and rapidly for Jordan Samuel, Mike Hill and Clone Furey after they gained Greatest Make-up and Hairstyling.
Spoiler alert: The awards present nonetheless ended up operating late — 10 minutes to be precise.
Hollywood’s largest evening doesn’t finish when the ultimate Academy Awards trophy is handed out. A-listers dressed to impress whereas protecting the social gathering going on the 2026 Self-importance Honest Oscar Celebration on Sunday, March 15, held at this yr’s brand-new venue: the Los Angeles County Museum of Artwork. Thank You! You have got efficiently subscribed. Subscribe to (…)
Worst Equal Time: Greatest Music Nominees
Whereas 5 songs have been nominated for Greatest Music (Unique Music), solely “Golden,” from Kpop Demon Hunters and “I Lied to You,” from Sinners have been carried out reside through the telecast.
As an added bummer, when the Kpop Demon Hunters staff gained the award, the winners didn’t have time to complete their acceptance speech as music performed off right into a industrial break. Regardless of one winner, leaping up and down hoping for extra time, producers in the end moved on with the present.