Wait. If you’re looking for a list of names holding gold statues from a ceremony that happened yesterday, we need to have a quick reality check about the calendar. Honestly, nobody won at the Oscars last night because the 98th Academy Awards haven't actually happened yet.
The big night is officially on the books for March 15, 2026.
I know, I know. The internet is currently a chaotic swirl of "winner" headlines and red carpet clips that make it feel like the season is already over. But what you likely saw "last night" (or earlier this week) was the fallout from the Golden Globes or the Critics Choice Awards. Those are the rowdy dress rehearsals. The Oscars? We are still in the frantic "nominations" phase of the cycle.
What Really Happened With the 2026 Oscar Race This Week?
Right now, the industry is in a total pressure cooker. On January 16, 2026, the Academy officially closed the doors on nominations voting. That means thousands of voters just spent their week frantically catching up on screeners, trying to decide if Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another is a masterpiece or just... a lot.
Basically, the "winners" you're seeing people argue about on social media are the frontrunners who dominated the 83rd Golden Globes on January 11. That night gave us a very clear roadmap of who is likely to win the real deal in March.
👉 See also: Eazy-E: The Business Genius and Street Legend Most People Get Wrong
The Heavy Hitters Moving Into Nominations Morning
While we wait for the official Oscar nominations announcement on Thursday, January 22, here is who has the most momentum.
- One Battle After Another: Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this thing is a juggernaut. It swept the Globes for Best Director and Screenplay. If you want to place a bet on who won at the Oscars last night in an alternate universe, it’s this film.
- Hamnet: Chloé Zhao’s Shakespearean drama is the emotional heavyweight. It took home Best Drama at the Globes, and Jessie Buckley is essentially a lock for Best Actress at this point. Her performance as Agnes Shakespeare is being called "career-defining" by almost every major critic at the LA Times and The Guardian.
- Sinners: Ryan Coogler’s horror-thriller is the box-office darling. While it didn't sweep the top Globe prizes, experts are predicting it could land up to 15 Oscar nominations, potentially breaking the record held by Titanic.
- Marty Supreme: Timothée Chalamet is having a moment. He won the Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy, and the buzz for his portrayal of a ping-pong pro is deafening.
The "Winners" People Are Talking About
If you're hearing people talk about specific names like they've already won, it's because the precursor awards were so decisive. Teyana Taylor is the name on everyone’s lips. She won the Supporting Actress Globe for One Battle After Another, and her speech—dedicated to "brown girls watching"—went viral instantly.
Then there’s Stellan Skarsgård. He pulled a massive "upset" at the Globes for his role in Sentimental Value, beating out heavyweights like Jacob Elordi and Benicio del Toro.
Why the "Oscars Last Night" Confusion Happens
Search engines are weird. Every year in mid-January, there’s a massive spike in people asking who won at the Oscars last night. It’s usually because the Golden Globes—which are held at the Beverly Hilton and look exactly like the Oscars to the casual observer—just wrapped up.
✨ Don't miss: Drunk on You Lyrics: What Luke Bryan Fans Still Get Wrong
Also, the Critics Choice Awards happened on January 11, adding more trophies to the pile. If you saw Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) or Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You) celebrating a big win on your feed, that’s where they were.
What to Watch For Next
The narrative isn't set in stone yet. The biggest date to circle on your calendar is January 22, 2026. That’s when Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman will stand up at 5:30 a.m. PST and announce the official 98th Academy Award nominees.
That morning changes everything.
Sometimes a "sure thing" from the Globes—like Wicked: For Good—suddenly loses steam when the actual Academy branches start voting. Right now, Wicked is looking a bit shaky in the major categories, while smaller indies like Bugonia (the new Yorgos Lanthimos flick) are surging.
🔗 Read more: Dragon Ball All Series: Why We Are Still Obsessed Forty Years Later
How to Stay Ahead of the Hype
If you want to be the smartest person in the room during your Oscar party (which, again, is March 15), you should probably keep an eye on these three things over the next month:
- The SAG Awards (Screen Actors Guild): These are the best predictor for acting winners because actors make up the largest branch of the Academy.
- The DGA (Directors Guild) Awards: If Paul Thomas Anderson wins here, the Best Director Oscar is his. Period.
- The "Late Season" Surge: Watch for films like Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro) to pick up "technical" wins that could propel them into a Best Picture upset.
So, while nobody technically "won" an Oscar last night, the race has never been more intense. We are roughly two months away from the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre.
Your Next Steps:
Keep your eyes peeled for the official nominations on January 22. Once those are out, the real "Oscar season" begins, and you can start filling out your ballot for the March 15 ceremony. If you haven't seen Hamnet or Sinners yet, now is the time to catch them before the spoilers—and the winners—become unavoidable.