Ashhar Alam/New Delhi

The Academy Awards will uphold one of its most cherished traditions in 2026, as last year’s acting champions return this time to hand over the golden statuettes.

The 2025 winners, Mikey Madison (Best Actress for Anora), Adrien Brody (Best Actor for The Brutalist), Kieran Culkin (Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain) and Zoe Saldana (Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Perez) are confirmed as presenters at the 2026 Oscars, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The first slate of presenters was unveiled by executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan, setting the stage for what promises to be another star-studded ceremony.

Madison’s triumph last year stood out as one of the evening’s defining moments. Her film Anora emerged as the biggest winner of the 2025 edition, bagging five awards, including the coveted Best Picture honour.

While the returning quartet will carry forward the tradition of passing the baton in the acting categories, organisers have yet to specify which awards each will present.

The 2026 ceremony will once again be steered by host Conan O'Brien, marking his second consecutive year at the helm. The event is scheduled to broadcast live on ABC and Hulu from the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 15.

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This year’s nominations are led by Sinners, which has secured a record 16 nods. The Best Actor race features Timothee Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).

On the musical front, two Best Original Song nominees, Golden from KPop Demon Hunters and I Lied to You from Sinners have so far been confirmed for live performances during the telecast.