The 98th Academy Awards on Sunday brought back the political pulse, with several proclamations demanding an end to the war, as well as tributes that remembered deceased stars such as Rob Reiner or the iconic Robert Redford.
From the opening speech to the acknowledgements in the main categories, figures such as Spain’s Javier Bardem and Norwegian director Joachim Trier took advantage of their time in front of the microphone to denounce the tense international geopolitical context.
This ceremony, beyond the awards, was also awaited with expectation to see if Hollywood would break its silence on the current situation, both inside and outside the country’s borders. And finally it was demonstrated that politics returned to the Oscars in 2026.
Javier Bardem, the most vindicative
Javier Bardem says “no to war and free Palestine” at the #Oscars, earning a huge round of applause from everyone in the room.
(via ABC/AMPAS) pic.twitter.com/7p3whJzhbm
– Variety (@Variety) March 16, 2026
Precisely the Spanish actor appeared before the more than 3,000 guests at this ceremony with the most critical and overwhelming speech.
Her commitment to current affairs was already apparent from her arrival on the red carpet, where she walked around wearing a “No to War” sticker and a pin advocating peace in Palestine.
“No to war and free Palestine,” exclaimed Bardem before giving way to the presentation of the award in the category of best international film.
Another moment that struck a deep chord in the evening’s sensibility was that of David Borenstein, director of the award-winning documentary ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’, who transformed his ascent to the podium into a heartfelt appeal to Humanity.
“There are some countries where, instead of shooting stars, they are dropping bombs and drones. In the name of our future, in the name of all our children, stop these wars now!” said Borenstein in a powerful speech, which was followed by prolonged applause from the audience.
Meanwhile, Paul Thomas Anderson said, in accepting the award for best adapted screenplay, that we are leaving “a very crazy world”, but showed his hope that future generations “will bring a little light into this world”.
Politics returned to the Oscars 2026
Here is the victory speech of Magician Joachim Trier ♥️✨
[Sentimental Value]#oscar
pic.twitter.com/5xAOOYoeiTK– Cinema Rhymes 🎬 (@CinemaRhymes) March 16, 2026
Trier moved the audience with a message full of tenderness and commitment.
After collecting the award for best international film for ‘Sentimental Value’, he evoked the wisdom of novelist James Baldwin to remind us that child care is a universal responsibility, which should be above any political guideline.
Far from the coldness of other stages, such as the last Golden Globes, the gala lent itself to political claims, but also to humor.
Conan O’Brien was much funnier and more fluent than in the last edition, masterfully conducting a ceremony that warned that it would have everything: laughter, criticism and a stage that celebrated the potential of cinema in spite of everything.
From Anna Wintour’s surprise to Adrien Brody’s dreaded moment.
In a “The Devil Wears Prada” spoof, Anna Wintour calls Anne Hathaway “Emily” while presenting Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the #Oscars. pic.twitter.com/9lVwF2vemY
– The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 16, 2026
Beyond the political claims, the 98th edition of the most important film awards left iconic moments, such as the acclaimed surprise appearance of Anna Wintour or the dreaded hint of an interminable speech with which the actor Adrien Brody, who last year made the longest speech in the history of the awards, threatened with laughter.
The director of Vogue from 1988 to 2025 appeared on stage alongside Anne Hathaway.
Presenting one of the awards, the iconic editor appealed to the audience’s complicity by calling the actress ‘Emily’, in a direct nod to her role in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, which served to celebrate the historic bond between Wintour and the character of Miranda Priestly.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s win as the first woman in Academy history to lead the Best Cinematography category for ‘Sinners’ also brought the stands to their feet, following a speech in which she invited all the women in the audience to share in her win by standing up.
“Without you I wouldn’t be here,” she said as she received a standing ovation at the Dolby Theatre.
Among the few performances of this edition, the stars of the ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ phenomenon emerged to perform ‘Golden’, the song that won the Oscar for best song.
Tributes to Rob Reiner and Robert Redford
Barbra Streisand pays tribute to Robert Redford and sings “The Way We Were” #Oscars pic.twitter.com/jDuhhDQXx2
– Deadline (@DEADLINE) March 16, 2026
And among the most moving moments of the Academy Awards were the tributes to artists who passed away this year, including filmmaker Rob Reiner and actor Robert Redford.
Barbra Streisand dedicated some heartfelt words to her friend Redford and sang a fragment of the Oscar-winning song ‘The Way We Were’, from the film of the same title in which they shared the screen.
Comedian Billy Crystal was in charge of honoring the memory of Reiner, who was assassinated last December, whom he described as one of the most influential figures in Hollywood and highlighted his activism.
Filed under: Politics Oscar 2026
With information from EFEOsca
