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Oscars 2026: A night of highs, lows and unexpected twists
The 98th Academy Awards delivered emotional wins, comedic jabs and backstage drama, including a rare tie for Best Short Action Film and heightened security amid global tensions.
Chalamet becomes the night's punchline
Actor Timothée Chalamet faced a double blow at Hollywood's biggest event: losing the Best Actor award to Michael B. Jordan and becoming the target of host Conan O'Brien's opening monologue.
O'Brien mocked Chalamet's recent public dismissal of ballet and opera, quipping, "Security is extremely tight tonight. There's concern about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities." The camera cut to Chalamet, seated beside girlfriend Kylie Jenner, forcing a smile.
Later, O'Brien attempted to smooth things over, telling the audience, "We're vibing, right?"-though Chalamet's inaudible response suggested otherwise.
Security tightens amid global tensions
Los Angeles authorities ramped up security for the ceremony, citing ongoing conflicts involving the U.S. and Israel in Iran. Measures included layered perimeters, SWAT vehicles, and police stationed every 33 meters (100 feet) around the Dolby Theatre.
Reporters covering the event at the nearby Loews Hotel underwent two metal detector scans and bag checks by police dogs before entering the interview room. Street closures and red-carpet preparations transformed Hollywood Boulevard into a fortified zone, with curtains obscuring local businesses.
A historic tie and backstage revelations
The Oscars saw its first tie in over a decade when The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva shared the award for Best Short Action Film. Academy librarians, stationed in the winners' room, confirmed the last tie occurred in 2013 for Best Sound Editing.
Backstage, winners expanded on cut-off speeches. The team behind KPop Demon Hunters-the first K-pop song to win Best Original Song-thanked collaborators, with songwriter Mark Sonnenblick emphasizing the film's message: "It's not 'I'm going up up up.' It's 'we're going up up up.'"
Firsts and feminist milestones
Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman to win in her category. In her backstage remarks, she highlighted the impact on young girls: "A lot of little girls who look like me will sleep really well tonight because they'll see this and think, 'I can do that too.'"
Meanwhile, Weapons supporting actress Amy Madigan hinted at a potential prequel, citing director Zach Cregger's "wacky ideas" but cautioning, "Nothing's real till it is."
Hidden touches and humor
O'Brien left handwritten notes under every seat in the Dolby Theatre, dubbing the included snacks a "Moderately Happy Meal" and joking they'd cost $85 in a regular cinema. The Academy confirmed the gesture was real, though media in the interview room missed out on the treats.
Production designer Frankenstein celebrated his win with an Oscar in one hand and a beer in the other, while filmmaker Pasha Talankin re-read his winning envelope for the Best Documentary Feature, Mr. Nobody Against Putin.
