KPop Demon Hunters’ Golden Moment at the 2026 Oscars
The 98th Academy Awards, held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrated the groundbreaking success of KPop Demon Hunters, which secured Oscars for both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.” The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien for the second consecutive year, as well featured a vibrant performance of the winning song.
A Historic Win for K-Pop
“Golden” made history as the first K-pop song to win an Academy Award. Six of the song’s credited writers were also the first South Koreans to win in the category. Ejae, a co-writer of the song, reflected on the significance of the win, stating, “Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone’s singing our song.” He emphasized that the award represented “resilience” rather than simply success. Los Angeles Times
Performance Highlights
The live performance of “Golden” was a spectacle, featuring Rei Ami, EJAE, and Audrey Nuna – the singing voices of the demon-fighting trio HUNTR/X – alongside Korean instrumentalists and dancers. The stage was filled with dancers in traditional Korean dress, waving golden flags, while scenes from the film played in the background. The Independent. Audience members were equipped with glowing light sticks during the performance. Rolling Stone
Acceptance Speech and Representation
Maggie Kang, co-writer and co-director of KPop Demon Hunters, delivered a moving acceptance speech, stating, “For those of you who look like me, I’m so sorry that it took so long to observe us in a movie like this, but it is here. That means the next generations don’t have to proceed longing.” She dedicated the award to “Korea and Koreans everywhere.” Los Angeles Times
Other Performances and Presenters
In addition to “Golden,” the ceremony featured a performance of “I Lied to You” from Sinners, with Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq joined by Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Brittany Howard, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey, and Alice Smith. The Independent. Presenters included Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin, Zoe Saldaña, Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Evans. The Independent