Oscars 2026: Best and worst moments

The 2026 Oscars at the Dolby Theatre returned with Conan O’Brien hosting for a second year and a night full of surprises. Only one acting race felt predictable — Jessie Buckley winning Best Actress for Hamnet — while the rest were toss ups, including Best Actor between Michael B.

Jordan and Timothée Chalamet and Best Picture between Sinners and One Battle After Another. O’Brien’s opening found a balance of goofy jokes, sharp zingers and sincere notes, though his attempt to turn Leonardo DiCaprio into a meme landed weakly when DiCaprio did not appear amused.

The host’s mockery of how the show might change for new platforms drew laughs, and his monologue closed on a salute to global artistry and optimism. Amy Madigan’s rambling, oversharing acceptance speech charmed many as she collected her first Oscar, while sound editing problems marred other moments, notably when Kate Hawley was bleeped so aggressively an entire sentence was lost.

oscars 2026, dolby theatre, conan o’brien, jessie buckley, hamnet, best actress, best picture, sinners, michael b., timothée chalamet