Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley Make History with Lead Oscar Wins

The 98th Academy Awards concluded on March 15, 2026, with a night of historic firsts and emotional victories that reshaped the Hollywood landscape. 

Michael B. Jordan secured his first ever Oscar for Best Actor for his dual performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack in Ryan Coogler’s supernatural thriller Sinners. In one of the most competitive lead actor races in recent memory, Jordan triumphed over fellow nominees Timothée Chalamet and Ethan Hawke, marking a career defining milestone that makes him only the sixth Black actor to ever win the category. 

During his speech, Jordan thanked Coogler for their long standing creative partnership and dedicated the win to his family.

On the other side of the top honors, Jessie Buckley scripted history as the first Irish woman to ever win the Academy Award for Best Actress. She claimed the trophy for her powerful role as Agnes Shakespeare in the period drama Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao. 

Buckley, who had swept the major precursors including the SAG and BAFTA awards, gave a tearful speech on Mother’s Day in the U.K., dedicating her victory to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart. 

The film Hamnet, which dramatizes the private life and grief of William Shakespeare’s family, was a major force throughout the night, also securing wins for its original score and costume design.

Beyond the lead categories, the ceremony was dominated by Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which took home Best Picture and five other awards including Best Director. 

Other notable wins included Amy Madigan taking home Best Supporting Actress for Weapons and Autumn Durald Arkapaw making history as the first woman of color to win Best Cinematography for her work on Sinners. 

Additionally, the animated sensation KPop Demon Hunters completed a rare awards sweep by winning both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for the track Golden. 

The evening served as a massive validation for both established veterans and a new generation of diverse talent.