Quick English: What happened at the 2026 Oscars?

The 98th Academy Awards, held on March 15, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, expanded the live broadcast to include twenty-four awards, a decision that reflected the Academy's effort to recognise a wider range of cinematic crafts. The Academy formally added a new prize for Best Casting, the first new Oscars category in decades, and this change was integrated into the evening's telecast so that casting directors received onstage recognition alongside more traditional disciplines.

Conan O'Brien returned to host, bringing a mix of satire and reverence to the stage, while nominees and presenters moved through rehearsed segments and live moments that tested quick thinking. Several practitioners won Oscars for the first time; notably, Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler each won their first Academy Award, and winners walked to the microphone to thank large teams. The statuettes were handed out after votes were tallied by the Academy's processes, and short acceptance speeches punctuated a night of music and applause.

Because the ceremony aired in multiple time zones, audiences in Japan and elsewhere saw the results on March 16 local time, which prompted immediate online discussion and critical response the following morning. Although awards season predictions had focused attention on a few frontrunners, the final winners illustrated how voting across many branches can bring unexpected, but welcome, recognition to craftspeople whose work is often unseen. The event combined pageantry, industry acknowledgement, and moments of genuine surprise.

It was an evening that celebrated craft, creativity, and collaboration. Viewers left with new favorites.