Highlights from the 2026 Oscars: Tie for Best Short Film and Sean Penn absent from ceremony

The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, were marked by both celebration and controversy. ‘Sinners’ led the nominations with a record 16 nods, while ‘One Battle After Another’ followed closely with 13, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio up for Best Actor. Sean Penn won Best Supporting Actor for his role in ‘One Battle After Another’ but did not attend the ceremony, with Kieran Culkin accepting on his behalf. A notable incident occurred when presenter Kumail Nanjian made an inappropriate Holocaust joke, referencing ‘Schindler Post It’ rather than ‘Schindler’s List,’ before awarding a tie for Best Live Action Short Film to ‘The Singers’ and ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva.’ This marked only the seventh tie in Oscar history. Security was notably heightened, with around 1,000 officers and drones on site, due to concerns about potential Iranian retaliation. Other highlights included Ryan Coogler winning Best Original Screenplay for ‘Sinners,’ Paul Thomas Anderson securing Best Adapted Screenplay, and the first-ever Oscar for Achievement in Casting being awarded to Cassandra Kulukundis for ‘One Battle After Another.’ Pedro Pascal surprised fans with a drastically new look, and stars such as Nicole Kidman, Jessie Buckley, and Emma Stone dominated the red carpet in elegant attire. Overall, the ceremony combined remarkable cinematic achievements with moments of controversy and heightened security concerns.