The Best Director race was full of world-class filmmakers at the 2026 Oscars. Each nominee was worthy of going home with a gold trophy tonight, but only one did for this category. Find out who won below!
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2026 Oscars Best Director Nominees
Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme)
Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value)
Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
Chloe Zhao (Hamnet)
Who Won Best Director at the 2026 Oscars?
The Best Director Oscar went to Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another. PTA has been one of the most respected filmmakers in Hollywood for 30 years. He burst onto the scene with Hard Eight in 1996. Then, the following year, at just 27 years old, Anderson released Boogie Nights, one of the great films of the decade. The fact that such a young director wrote and directed such an incredible film, proved that Anderson was destined for greatness. He was officially crowned as one of the great directors in Hollywood with his modern masterpiece, There Will Be Blood.
Despite all of this incredible work, PTA had never won an Oscar until tonight. Anderson had been nominated for 11 Oscars prior to tonight, but never won. His remarkable revolutionary thriller/family drama/satire comedy film One Battle After Another finally got Anderson the award he has deserved for a long time, as the Best Director of the year.
Best Director 2026 Oscars FAQ
Who won Best Director at the 2026 Oscars?
Paul Thomas Anderson won Best Director for his masterpiece, One Battle After Another.
Who was nominated for Best Director at the 2026 Oscars?
Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Coogler, Josh Safdie, Chloe Zhao and Joachim Trier were nominated for Best Director at the 2026 Oscars.
