Selfie Frenzy and Major Upsets Define the 2026 Oscars Ceremony
The 98th Academy Awards, held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, was a night of glamour, surprises, and social media moments as Hollywood's elite celebrated the best films of 2025. A-listers like Kate Hudson, Demi Moore, and Emma Stone kicked off the festivities by posing for a mid-ceremony selfie, showcasing the event's lively atmosphere.
Star-Studded Selfies and Red Carpet Highlights
Inside the ceremony, Hudson, Moore, and Stone were joined by Emma's husband Dave McCary, with Hudson's fiancé Danny Fujikawa extending his arm to capture the photo. This mirrored the trend on the red carpet, where Teyana Taylor paused to snap selfies with enthusiastic fans. Chase Infiniti, a star of One Battle After Another, documented her experience by taking a selfie during the KPop Demon Hunters performance, clutching a glowing lightstick. Meanwhile, Rose Byrne and her husband Bobby Cannavale enjoyed their time on the red carpet following Byrne's nomination for Best Actress, smiling and taking photos with supporters outside the venue.
Major Award Winners and Historic Moments
The night's biggest shock came when Michael B. Jordan, 39, upset favorite Timothee Chalamet to win Best Actor for his role in Sinners. Jordan portrayed twin brothers in the film, which follows two siblings returning to their hometown only to confront a vampire threat. In disbelief, he accepted the award from last year's winner Adrien Brody. On the Best Actress front, Jessie Buckley, 36, triumphed for her performance in Hamnet, a Netflix film about grief in 16th-century England, beating out nominees like Rose Byrne and Emma Stone.
One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, claimed the top prize of Best Picture. The film, a black comedy action-thriller about ex-revolutionaries rescuing a comrade's daughter, earned six awards total, including Best Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay. It triumphed over a competitive field that included Bugonia, F1, and Hamnet.
Additional Awards and Cultural Impact
Other notable wins included KPop Demon Hunters securing Best Original Song for Golden, a historic moment for the Netflix film about a KPop group doubling as demon hunters. In technical categories, Frankenstein won for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, while F1 took home Best Sound. The ceremony also highlighted international talent, with Norway's Sentimental Value winning Best International Feature Film.
The event underscored the Oscars' blend of tradition and modern trends, from selfie-taking celebrities to groundbreaking wins in diverse categories. As stars like Benicio del Toro and Odessa A'zion engaged with fans, the 2026 awards season concluded with a mix of expected victories and stunning upsets, leaving audiences buzzing about the future of cinema.
