The 98th Academy Awards delivered some historic and exciting moments Sunday night in Hollywood, including several major wins for artists of color both in front of and behind the camera.
While the film One Battle After Another dominated the night overall, one of the biggest highlights came from the success of the film Sinners, which brought multiple Oscars home and helped spotlight Black excellence across several categories.
Here's a look at some of the people of color who took home Academy Awards at the 2026 Oscars.
Getty - Kevin Winter
Michael B. Jordan — Best Actor
One of the biggest moments of the night came when Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for his powerful dual performance as twins Smoke and Stack in Sinners.
This marked Jordan's first-ever Oscar win and nomination, making the moment even more historic. He became just the sixth Black actor in Academy Awards history to win the Best Actor category.
Jordan has worked closely with director Ryan Coogler for years, collaborating on films like Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther, and their partnership once again proved to be award-winning.
Getty - Kevin Winter
Ryan Coogler — Best Original Screenplay
Director and filmmaker Ryan Coogler also took home gold, winning Best Original Screenplay for Sinners.
The film had a massive night overall, earning multiple awards and becoming one of the ceremony's most celebrated movies. Coogler's win further cements him as one of Hollywood's most influential storytellers.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw — Best Cinematography
Getty - Brianna Bryson
Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography for her work on Sinners.
Her stunning visual work helped define the film's tone and atmosphere, making it one of the most visually striking movies of the year.
Getty: Arturo Holmes
Ludwig Göransson — Best Original Score
While he's not a person of color, Composer Ludwig Göransson earned the Oscar for Best Original Score for Sinners, a movie that's music is rooted in the black experience and culture.
This marks his third Academy Award win, continuing an impressive career that includes scoring films like Black Panther and Oppenheimer. His work on Sinners blended orchestral and blues influences to create a powerful soundtrack.
Overall, Sinners had a standout night at the Oscars, winning four Academy Awards, including: Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan)Best Original Screenplay (Ryan Coogler) Best Cinematography (Autumn Durald Arkapaw)Best Original Score (Ludwig Göransson)
The film also entered the ceremony with a record-breaking number of nominations, showing just how much impact the project had across the industry.
Moments like these continue to highlight the growing impact of diverse voices in Hollywood. From acting to directing, cinematography, and music, artists of color are shaping the stories that audiences see on the big screen.
With films like Sinners leading the way, this year's Oscars proved that representation behind and in front of the camera continues to move the industry forward.