2026 Oscars: A Night of Surprises and Controversies
The 2026 Academy Awards have concluded, but the buzz continues as audiences dissect the most talked-about moments from Hollywood's biggest night. Host Conan O'Brien set the tone with a bold opening monologue, while historic wins and unexpected reunions kept viewers engaged throughout the ceremony.
Conan O'Brien's Shocking Joke
Oscars host Conan O'Brien stunned the crowd with a joke that appeared to reference the Epstein files during his opening speech. Without naming anyone directly, he pointed out the absence of British nominees in the Best Actor and Actress categories, stating, "For the first time since 2012, there are no British actors nominated." He then added, "But at least they arrest the paedophiles over there." The audience initially hesitated, but applause eventually broke out as the shock subsided. This came amid news of disgraced former prince Andrew's arrest in February 2026 on suspicion of misconduct in public office, though he faces no charges for misconduct. Andrew has denied all allegations, and investigators are still probing whether he sent sensitive government information to Epstein.
Timothée Chalamet's Tough Night
Timothée Chalamet faced a brutal evening, losing both awards he was nominated for and becoming the target of several jokes. The Marty Supreme star did not win the Academy Award for Best Picture or Best Actor, with those honors going to One Battle After Another and Michael B. Jordan, respectively. Chalamet also faced backlash following polarising comments where he said "no one cares" about opera or ballet. Host Conan O'Brien joked about security concerns, saying, "Security is tight, there are concerns of attacks from the ballet and opera community. They're just mad you left out jazz." Chalamet arrived at the event wearing a white suit and sunglasses, adding to the night's memorable fashion moments.
Anne Hathaway and Anna Wintour's On-Stage Banter
The Devil Wears Prada 2 star Anne Hathaway presented two awards alongside Vogue's editorial director Anna Wintour. Meryl Streep's fictional character Miranda Priestly in the original film is widely believed to have been inspired by Wintour. While presenting Best Costume Design and Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Hathaway asked if Wintour wanted to read the list of nominees. Wintour humorously replied, "Thank you, Emily," mistaking Hathaway for her co-star Emily Blunt, creating a light-hearted moment that delighted the audience.
Historic Tie in Best Live Action Short
Comedian Kumail Nanjiani presented the award for Best Live Action Short and shocked everyone by announcing, "It's a tie." After assuring the crowd he wasn't joking and asking them to "remain calm," he explained he would announce one winner, let them accept their award, and then announce the second. Nanjiani quipped, "Ironic that the Short Film Oscar is gonna take twice as long." The films The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva tied, sparking discussions about fairness in competitions with dual winners.
Kieran Culkin's Witty Acceptance for Sean Penn
Succession star Kieran Culkin presented Best Supporting Actor and accepted the award on behalf of winner Sean Penn for his role in One Battle After Another. In true Culkin style, he said, "Sean Penn couldn't be here this evening, or didn't want to, so I'll be accepting the award on his behalf." This humorous take added a playful edge to the ceremony's award presentations.
Bridesmaids Reunion Marks 15th Anniversary
Rose Byrne, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, and Ellie Kemper reunited to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their 2011 comedy Bridesmaids while presenting Oscars for Best Original Score and Sound. Wiig expressed their joy, saying, "We are so happy to all be here together tonight. I cannot believe that it's been 15 years. Now, we are not good with numbers, but we figured out backstage that means we shot this movie in 1883." In a humorous bit, the actresses pretended to read notes from nominees, with Rudolph joking about Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård and Byrne teasing Leonardo DiCaprio.
K-pop Makes History with Best Original Song
Golden from the Netflix animation K-pop Demon Hunters won Best Original Song, marking the first-ever K-pop track to receive this honor. Kim Eun-jae, who provides a singing voice in the film, led the writers on stage and said emotionally, "Thank you so much to the Academy for this insane award. Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now, everyone's singing our song and all the Korean lyrics. I'm so proud." However, the moment was cut short as the orchestra started while a co-writer began speaking, ending their time on stage abruptly.
Jimmy Kimmel's Jab at Donald Trump
Jimmy Kimmel poked fun at US President Donald Trump while presenting Best Documentary Feature. He said, "Oh man, is he gonna be mad his wife wasn't nominated for this," referencing Melania Trump's critically panned documentary without naming her. Released in January, the documentary about the First Lady grossed $7 million on its opening weekend despite initial struggles to sell tickets.
One Battle After Another Dominates with Best Picture Win
Paul Thomas Anderson's film One Battle After Another won six Oscars, including the night's biggest prize, Best Picture. The dark comedy action thriller, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Talor, and Chase Infiniti, had been the frontrunner for a while. With 13 nominations, it had the second-largest haul this year, while Sinners set a record with 16 nominations. The film's success capped off a night filled with drama, humor, and historic achievements.
