The 98th Academy Awards: Hollywood's Grandest Night Returns

Film & Festivals 2026-01-25 • Written by: Charlotte Thames

The 98th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood delivered a ceremony that felt both timeless and urgent. The red carpet was a masterclass in couture — Valentino, Givenchy, and Armani Privé dominated, with structured silhouettes and jewel-toned satins setting the tone for a night that celebrated cinema's highest achievements.

The evening's biggest moment belonged to the Best Picture race, which saw a fierce contest between intimate character studies and sweeping epics. The after-parties — from the Vanity Fair gathering at the Wallis Annenberg Center to the Governor's Ball — hummed with the energy of an industry that still believes in the power of the big screen.

For the luxury world, the Oscars remain the ultimate intersection of fashion, celebrity, and cultural capital. The jewellery alone — Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany — was estimated at over $100 million on the red carpet. Hollywood's grandest night continues to prove that spectacle, when done with conviction, is an art form in itself.

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