The 2026 Oscars speechespublished at 10:02 GMT
Image source, EPAImage caption,
Amy Madigan said she was a left a little ‘flummoxed’ by her Oscars win
It’s the biggest speech in an actor’s career, the
moment they’ve all run through in their heads more times than they’ll
admit, so what did we hear at the 2026 Oscars acceptance speeches?
“I was in the shower last night trying to think of something to say when I was shaving my legs… but I have pants on so didn’t need to worry about that,” joked supporting actress winner Amy Madigan in the first speech of the night.
“As you can tell, I’m a little flummoxed,” before paying tribute to her fellow nominees and her family including fellow actor husband Ed Harris before leaving the stage tearfully.
KPop Demon Hunters’ winner Maggie Kang apologised to “people that look like me” that it “took us so long to see us in a move like this”.
“But it is here, and that means the next generations don’t have to go longing, this is for Korea and Koreans everywhere.”
Image source, Getty Images
Jessie Buckley dedicated her win to the “beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart” during her acceptance for best actress.
Thanking the “incredible women I stand beside” – her fellow nominees – she said: “I am inspired by your heart and I want to work with every single one of you.”
Michael B Jordan told the crowd that he was standing on the Oscars stage because of the “people that came before me”.
“Sydney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Fox, Forest Whittaker, Will Smith,” he lists. “To be amongst those giants, amongst those greats… thank you everybody… I feel it.”
In one of three speeches from Paul Thomas Anderson, this time for best film, he lists the 1975 best picture nominees, including Jaws, Dog Day Afternoon and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
“There is no best among them, there’s just a mood that day. We’re just happy to be part of this. So many great films this year,” he said.
