One Oscar After Another: The 14 Wildest Moments from the 2026 Academy Awards

If you didn’t stay up to watch the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, let’s just say you missed more than just a few speeches. It was a night of historic “firsts,” high-stakes politics, and a literal vampire invasion at the Dolby Theatre. From K-pop making history to an awkward tie that had everyone double-checking the envelopes, the Oscars truly delivered.

At D-Muse Magz, we’re still reeling from the glamour and the grit. Here are the 14 biggest highlights that have the internet in a total spiral today.

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1. Ryan Coogler Makes History (Again)

Ryan Coogler walked away with the trophy for Best Original Screenplay for his vampire thriller Sinners. This makes him only the second Black filmmaker ever to win in this category (following Jordan Peele for Get Out). In his speech, he touchingly reminded us that “memories are all we have.”

2. The Inaugural “Best Casting” Award

For the first time in Oscars history, the Academy handed out a trophy for Best Casting. The honor went to Cassandra Kulukundis for One Battle After Another, proving that picking the right faces is just as important as the directing itself.

3. The “Barn Scene” Recreated Live

In one of the most immersive bits of the night, the Sinners cast took the stage to recreate the iconic and terrifying “I Lied to You” barn scene. Seeing Michael B. Jordan and Jack O’Connell bring that intensity to the live stage was enough to give the entire front row goosebumps.

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4. Will Arnett’s War on AI

While presenting Best Animated Short Film, Will Arnett didn’t hold back. Taking a stand for human creativity, he declared to thunderous applause:

“Animation is an art form, not a prompt. It’s people, not AI.”

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5. Shots Fired at Timothée Chalamet

Host Conan O’Brien brought the heat during his opening monologue. He took several playful jabs at Timothée Chalamet, jokingly mourning the “loss” of Timmy’s indie-darling status now that he’s a full-blown block-buster king. Chalamet took it like a champ, laughing from his seat.

6. A Legend Honors a Legend

In a tear-jerking moment, Barbra Streisand appeared on stage to pay tribute to her The Way We Were co-star, the late Robert Redford. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as she spoke about their “once-in-a-lifetime” screen chemistry.

7. The Rare Double-Win (A Tie!)

For only the seventh time in Oscars history, we had a tie! The award for Best Live-Action Short Film was shared by The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva. Presenter Kumail Nanjiani had to clarify several times that he “wasn’t joking.”

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8. A Firm Message from ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’

Taking home Best Documentary Feature, the creators of Mr. Nobody Against Putin used their platform for a sobering political message. Co-director Pavel Talankin urged the world to “stop all of these wars now,” highlighting the dangers of state propaganda.

9. The Bedroom That Froze in Time

The most emotional win of the night went to All the Empty Rooms for Best Documentary Short. The film captures the bedrooms of children lost to school shootings. Gloria Cazares, a mother from Uvalde, stood on stage and said, “If the world could see their empty bedrooms, we’d see a different America.”

10. Autumn Durald Arkapaw Breaks the Glass Ceiling

History was officially made when Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography for Sinners. She is the first woman ever to win this category in 98 years of Academy history.

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11. Javier Bardem’s Powerful Plea

Presenting Best International Feature, Javier Bardem took a stand. Before announcing the nominees, he stated clearly: “No to war, and free Palestine.” The Dolby Theatre erupted in a massive wave of support.

12. K-Pop Finally Wins Big

History was made for music lovers as “Golden” from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters won Best Original Song. It’s the first-ever K-pop track to take home an Oscar! Lead songwriter EJAE gave a heart-wrenching speech about the power of resilience.

13. Michael B. Jordan’s Best Actor Triumph

After years of incredible performances, Michael B. Jordan finally secured his first Oscar for his dual role as “Smoke” and “Stack” in Sinners. He is the first actor to ever win for playing twins, and his shoutout to “his babies at home” was peak Wholesome Content.

14. ‘One Battle After Another’ Sweeps the Night

The big winner of the evening was undeniably Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. The film took home six awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, proving that PTA is officially the Academy’s new golden child.

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The D-Muse Final Verdict

The 2026 Academy Awards felt like a turning point. It wasn’t just about who wore what; it was about who got a voice. From the first female cinematography win to the first K-pop victory, the Academy is starting to look a lot more like the real world.

What was your favorite “I can’t believe that happened” moment? Are you Team Sinners or are you already pre-ordering the One Battle After Another Blu-ray? Let us know in the comments—and tell us, who do you think was the best dressed on the red carpet?

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