Oscars 2026 recap: The biggest winners and best moments

Host Conan O'Brien guided viewers through the evening.

Last Updated: March 15, 2026, 10:52 PM EDT

The biggest and brightest stars from across Hollywood and the world of entertainment gathered in Los Angeles on Sunday for the 98th Academy Awards.

"One Battle After Another" won the Oscar for best picture, while Jessie Buckley and Michael B. Jordan took home the Academy Awards for leading actress and leading actor. "One Battle After Another" won six total Oscars -- including best picture -- out of 13 nominations.

Scroll below to see how the night unfolded.

Mar 15, 2026, 2:53 PM EDT

Who is performing at the Oscars?

Songs nominated for best original song will be performed tonight, including "Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters" and "I Lied To You" from "Sinners."

EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami will take the stage to perform "Golden," while Raphael Saadiq and "Sinners" star Miles Caton will perform "I Lied To You."

Still from "KPop Demon Hunters."
NETFLIX

Joining Saadiq and Caton are Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey and Alice Smith.

Mar 15, 2026, 2:52 PM EDT

Who won at last year's Oscars?

"Anora" was the top winner at the 2025 Oscars, taking home five awards, including best director for Sean Baker.

Other major wins included Adrien Brody for best actor in "The Brutalist" and Mikey Madison for best actress in "Anora." Kieran Culkin won for best supporting actor for "A Real Pain," while Zoe Saldaña won best supporting actress for "Emilia Pérez."

Relive some of the biggest moments here.

Mar 15, 2026, 2:21 PM EDT

What to know about Oscars host Conan O'Brien

Talk show host and comedian Conan O'Brien is returning as Oscars host for the second time.

In an interview with "Good Morning America" ahead of the 2026 awards show, O'Brien teased that there could be "a lot of possibilities" in store.

"Early on, you just generate possibilities for the show: 'What might we do?' You have to wait and see which movies are nominated, what's in the zeitgeist, so there'll be a lot of ideas that come in late," he said. "Sometimes, those are the best ideas."

Host Conan O'Brien lies on the carpet as he participates in the 98th Oscars arrivals carpet roll out in Hollywood, Calif., March 11, 2026.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
Mar 15, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

When is the ABC Oscars red carpet pre-show?

This year's Oscars red carpet pre-show, the official lead-in to the ceremony, will be hosted by talk show host Tamron Hall and "Bachelor" host Jesse Palmer.

You can watch the pre-show on ABC and Hulu when it airs at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Prior to the ABC Oscars red carpet pre-show, don't miss "On the Red Carpet at the Oscars" as nominees arrive at the Dolby Theater.

The pre-show, which will include Linsey Davis, Whit Johnson, Lara Spencer, Chris Connelly and more, will be available starting at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC and available to stream on ABC News Live.

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