Oscars

What are the Academy Awards?

Answer: The Academy Awards, or the Oscars, are a highly acclaimed annual event presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Oscars night marks one of the most anticipated evenings in Hollywood, when veteran entertainers and rising stars are honored for their work from the previous year. A-list celebrities also walk the red carpet ahead of the ceremony, showcasing couture attire and stunning jewelry.

In addition to acting awards, the Academy Awards present a range of high-profile honors recognizing other professions within the film and entertainment industry. Individuals can receive multiple Oscars in the same category, but they cannot receive multiple nominations for the same performance.

Some of the most prestigious awards are presented in the categories of best picture, best director, best actor, best actress and best screenplay.

What is the history of the Oscars?

Answer: The first Oscars ceremony took place on May 16, 1929, at the iconic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California, where Marilyn Monroe later lived for two years, according to the Academy’s official website Oscars.org.

The awards presentation reportedly lasted just 15 minutes.

How did the Academy Awards get its name ‘Oscars’?

Answer: While no one knows for certain how the Oscars statuette got its nickname, an urban legend says the name originated after Margaret Herrick, a librarian for the Academy, remarked that the statuette resembled her uncle, whose name was Oscar.

The Academy first officially adopted the nickname in 1939, a few years after the moniker emerged.

Who won at the 2026 Oscars?

Answer: Best picture: "One Battle After Another"

Best actor: Michael B. Jordan, "Sinners"

Best actress: Jessie Buckley, "Hamnet"

Best supporting actress: Amy Madigan, "Weapons"

Best supporting actor: Sean Penn, "One Battle After Another"

Best director: Paul Thomas Anderson, "One Battle After Another"

Best original score: "Sinners," Ludwig Göransson

Best sound: "F1"

Best film editing: "One Battle After Another," Andy Jurgensen

Best cinematography: "Sinners"

Best international feature film: Norway, "Sentimental Value"

Best original song: "Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters"

Best animated feature: "KPop Demon Hunters" (Netflix)

Best animated short: "The Girl Who Cried Pearls"

Best costume design: "Frankenstein," Kate Hawley

Best makeup and hairstyling: "Frankenstein"

Best casting: "One Battle After Another," Cassandra Kulukundis

Best live-action short: "The Singers" & "Two People Exchanging Saliva"

Best adapted screenplay: "One Battle After Another," Paul Thomas Anderson

Best original screenplay: "Sinners," Ryan Coogler

Best production design: "Frankenstein"

Best visual effects: "Avatar: Fire and Ash"

Best documentary short: "All the Empty Rooms"

Best documentary feature: "Mr. Nobody Against Putin".

Who won their first Oscar in 2026?

Answer: The 2026 Academy Awards saw many first-time Oscar winners in categories ranging from best actor to best casting including Michael B. Jordan, Rose Byrne, Jessie Buckley, Delroy Lindo, Renate Reinsve, Wagner Moura and Cassandra Kulukundis. First-time winners included Jordan, Buckley and Kulukundis.

Who hosted the 2026 Oscars?

Answer: Former "Late Night" and "The Tonight Show" host and comedian Conan O'Brien hosted the Oscars for the second consecutive year.

During his Academy Awards monologue in 2026, O'Brien took a swipe at Kid Rock and the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) Super Bowl halftime show saying, "I should warn you, tonight could get political, OK? And if that makes you uncomfortable, there’s an alternate Oscars being hosted by Kid Rock. Yeah, it’s at the Dave & Buster's down the street. A lot of tickets for that."

He also poked fun at Timothée Chalamet, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and Leonardo DiCaprio, among others.

During the 2025 Academy Awards, O'Brien poked fun at Adam Sandler's attire and Demi Moore’s role in "The Substance," among other A-listers.

What did celebrities wear on the 2026 Oscars red carpet?

Answer: Among some of the 2026 Academy Awards haute couture designers were Dior, Christian Siriano and Louis Vuitton. Hollywood's elite walked the Oscars 2026 red carpet on Sunday, March 15.

Nicole Kidman stunned in a strapless nude Chanel gown that featured a crystal-embellished bodice and a dramatic feathered peplum at the waist. The dress transitioned into a fitted blush pink skirt decorated with delicate feather embellishments down to the hemline.

Gwyneth Paltrow commanded attention while presenting in a strapless white silk custom Giorgio Armani Privé column gown with a dual slit on either side.

Some celebrities’ accessories cost a fortune on the red carpet.

Kate Hudson accessorized her seafoam green Giorgio Armani Privé gown with Garatti jewelry, including a statement necklace featuring more than 41 carats of rare green diamonds valued at roughly $35 million.

Kevin O’Leary wore a black jacket adorned with intricate silver embroidery, paired with a sash-style belt, black trousers and red velvet loafers. O’Leary’s statement piece was a rare Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant trading card set in gold and diamonds as a necklace, reportedly valued at up to $20 million.