The 6 Best Moments from the 2026 Academy Awards

The 98th Annual Academy Awards were not without surprises and snubs, but Hollywood’s biggest night provided no shortage of entertainment. Most observers expected Ryan Coogler’s Sinners and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another to duke it out for most of the major awards, and both films racked up an armful of honors. Regardless of what movies, actors, directors, etc. you were rooting for, a lot of history was made at the 2026 Oscars. 

Held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, this year’s Oscars saw Barbra Streisand and Billy Crystal among those honoring those we’ve lost during a heartfelt In Memoriam segment, and host Conan O’Brien got some shots in at Donald Trump. 

But we decided to pick our favorite moments from this year’s Oscars–so here are the 6 Best Moments From the 2026 Academy Awards. Be warned: there’s a whole lot of Sinners. 

6. Teyana Taylor’s enthusiasm

The night’s big winner was undoubtedly One Battle After Another, and when Paul Thomas Anderson and the cast took to the stage after the film’s Best Picture win, co-star and Best Supporting Actress nominee Teyana Taylor’s enthusiasm was palpable. Her bear hug of PTA, and her cheering and broad smile were infectious–highlighting why awards shows should always be fun, and nobody should be too cool to have a good time. 

5. Ryan Coogler winning Best Original Screenplay

The filmmaker’s big win puts him in extremely rare territory: he is now only the second Black writer to win the award, following Jordan Peele, who won it in 2018 for Get Out. After thanking the film’s cast and his wife Zinzi, he gave a sweet shoutout to his children: "And to my babies that are at home watching, I apologize for all the time away. Daddy loves you. Memories are all we have. I hope I gave you some great ones. When you're blessed to live a long life and Dad becomes just a memory, I want you all to remember this one thing: I love y'all more than anything."

4. Black excellence on the red carpet

Black stars were definitely shining at the Academy Awards–and the red carpet was a perfect showcase. Teyana Taylor was predictably gorgeous but not at all predictable in her flowing and form-fitting black and white gown. A nine-months pregnant Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku was positively glowing in green, while her co-star Jayme Lawson stunned in cobalt blue. F1 star Damson Idris rocked a very dapper Prada topcoat, and Marsai Martin was draped in chocolate. 

3. “Sinners” musical tribute 

Miles Caton, Raphael Saadiq and so many more took the stage to perform a rousing rendition of the nominated song “I Lied to You.” Caton’s costars Li Jun Li, Jayme Lawson and Jack O’Connell joined him onstage, as did Grammy-winner Shaboozey, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, guitarist Eric Gales, blues legend Buddy Guy (who has an important cameo in Sinners), Alice Smith, Brittany Howard, Bobby Rush and retired American Ballet Theatre dancer Misty Copeland.

2. The first woman to win Best Cinematographer is Black

Sinners’ cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography. “I’m so honored to be here and I really want all the women in the room to stand up because I feel like I don’t get here without you guys,” she said during her acceptance speech. “I have felt so much love from all the women on this whole campaign and gotten to meet so many people, and I just feel like moments like this happen because of you guys, and I want to thank you for that.”

1. Michael B. Jordan’s Acceptance Speech

The Sinners star took home the award for Best Actor for his portrayal of twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore and in his speech, he thanked his family, Sinners director Ryan Coogler, and his costars from the film, while also acknowledging those who’d stood on that stage before him. 

"I stand here because of the people that came before me: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith," he said. "And to be amongst those giants, amongst those greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys, thank you everybody in this room, and everybody at home for supporting me over my career. I feel it. I know you guys want me to do well and I want to do that because you guys bet on me. So thank you for keeping betting on me. And I'mma keep stepping up, and I'ma keep being the best version of myself I can be."