Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin, More 2025 Winners

In a continuation of a long-standing tradition, the Academy Awards will once again feature its most recent acting winners as presenters at the 2026 ceremony. This practise, a hallmark of the Oscars, recognizes past achievements while spotlighting those who continue to shape the landscape of cinematic performance.

Celebrating Recent Victories

Mikey Madison, recognised for her performance in Anora, Adrien Brody, honored for his role in The Brutalist, Kieran Culkin, celebrated for A Real Pain and Zoe Saldaña, acknowledged for Emilia Pérez, will all take to the stage as presenters. Madison’s win was notably a surprise, contributing to Anora’s impressive haul of five awards – including Best Picture – at the 2025 Oscars.

Did You Know? Anora secured the most wins of any film at the 2025 Academy Awards, taking home a total of five trophies.

Behind the Scenes

The announcement was made by Raj Kapoor, executive producer and showrunner, and Katy Mullan, executive producer. While the specific awards each presenter will announce remain undisclosed, past ceremonies have often seen the best actress and supporting actress winners present the best actor and supporting actor awards, and vice versa.

The 2026 Nominees and Ceremony Details

The 2026 Oscar nominations have already been announced, with Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, and Wagner Moura vying for Best Actor. Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve, and Emma Stone are nominated for Best Actress. The supporting actor and actress categories also boast strong contenders, including Benicio Del Toro, Jacob Elordi, and Elle Fanning.

Expert Insight: The tradition of having previous year’s winners present at the Oscars reinforces a sense of continuity and respect for achievement within the film industry. It also provides a platform for these actors to remain visible and engaged with the awards show.

Conan O’Brien will return to host the 2026 Oscars for the second consecutive year. The ceremony is scheduled to air live on ABC and Hulu from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 15, beginning at 4 p.m. PT. Sinners currently leads the nominations with a record-breaking 16 nods.

Notably, only two of this year’s best original song nominees – “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters and “I Lied to You” from Sinners – will be performed live during the broadcast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Best Actress at the 2025 Oscars?

Mikey Madison won Best Actress at the 2025 Oscars for her performance in Anora.

Who is hosting the 2026 Oscars?

Conan O’Brien is hosting the 2026 Oscars.

Which film received the most nominations for the 2026 Oscars?

Sinners received a record-breaking 16 nominations for the 2026 Oscars.

As the ceremony approaches, it remains to be seen how the presenters will be integrated into the show and whether any surprises await the audience. The event could also serve as a launching pad for the nominated actors and films, further solidifying their place in cinematic history.