Oscars 2026 best moments: ‘One Battle After Another’ triumph, rare tie and ‘Baby Yoda’ cameo

The 98th Academy Awards returned to the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, closing out Hollywood’s awards season with a ceremony packed with viral moments, emotional tributes and unexpected surprises.

Hosted by Conan O’Brien for the second consecutive year, the Oscars quickly sparked a wave of reactions across social media as viewers shared memes, clips and commentary throughout the night.

The night was also dominated by One Battle After Another, which emerged as the biggest winner of the ceremony and quickly became one of the most talked about films online.

From historic wins to surprise cameos, here are the Oscars 2026 best moments that had the internet buzzing.

Sinners dominates conversation with historic win

One of the most talked about films of the night was Sinners, which drew loud applause inside the theatre and celebration online each time it won an award.

Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made Oscars history after becoming the first woman to win the Academy Award for best cinematography for the film. The milestone quickly spread across social media, with many viewers praising the breakthrough moment.

Another emotional highlight followed when director Ryan Coogler ran to the back of the theatre to bring Arkapaw’s son closer to the stage so he could watch his mother deliver her acceptance speech.

Michael B. Jordan’s performance in Sinners also became a major talking point online. The actor portrayed twin characters Elijah “Smoke” Moore and Elias “Stack” Moore, prompting viewers to joke that he deserved two Oscars for the dual role.

K-pop performance turns the Dolby Theatre into a light show

A musical performance from EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami quickly became one of the ceremony’s most viral moments.

The trio performed the track ‘Golden’ from K-Pop Demon Hunters, but it was the audience participation that caught viewers’ attention. Guests inside the Dolby Theatre were given K-pop-style light sticks and asked to hold them up during the performance.

The sight of Hollywood’s biggest stars waving glowing orbs instantly spread across social media, with many calling it one of the most unexpected visuals of the night.

Rare Oscars tie shocks the audience

Another moment that sparked confusion and excitement came when presenter Kumail Nanjiani revealed the winner for live action short film.

Instead of a single winner, the category ended in a rare tie. The award was shared by the teams behind The Singers and Two People Exchanging Salvia.

The unexpected result quickly triggered reactions online, with viewers pointing out that ties are extremely rare in Oscars history.

Marty Supreme becomes the night’s running joke

Despite being heavily discussed during awards season, Marty Supreme left the Oscars without any trophies.

Still, the film remained a constant talking point throughout the ceremony thanks to its star Timothée Chalamet. The actor appeared frequently on camera and became part of several jokes during O’Brien’s opening monologue.

Chalamet’s comments about opera and ballet also gained attention online, while viewers noticed he was seated prominently during the Sinners musical segment featuring celebrated ballerina Misty Copeland.

Emotional tributes during the In Memoriam segment

The Oscars’ annual In Memoriam segment delivered one of the ceremony’s most emotional moments, paying tribute to influential figures in the film industry who died over the past year.

Billy Crystal honoured filmmaker Rob Reiner, highlighting both his celebrated films and his advocacy work alongside his wife Michele Singer Reiner in support of marriage equality.

Rachel McAdams remembered Catherine O’Hara and Diane Keaton. McAdams and Keaton previously starred together in the 2005 film The Family Stone, and viewers praised the personal tone of her tribute.

The segment concluded with Barbra Streisand performing ‘The Way We Were’ in tribute to her former co-star Robert Redford, a moment that triggered emotional reactions across social media.

Surprise cameos tease upcoming films

The Oscars ceremony also delivered a few playful moments promoting upcoming films.

Anna Wintour joined Anne Hathaway on stage to present the awards for best costume design and best makeup and hairstyling. During their exchange, Hathaway asked Wintour if she would like to read the nominees.

Wintour replied, “Thank you, Emily,” referencing the character from The Devil Wears Prada. The highly anticipated sequel to the film is set to arrive in cinemas on May 1.

Another surprise came when Grogu, widely known as “Baby Yoda” from the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, appeared seated among the audience at the Dolby Theatre.

The cameo served as a playful teaser for the upcoming film The Mandalorian & Grogu, which is scheduled to hit cinemas on May 22.