Oscars 2026: Historic Tie for Best Live Action Short Film

In a rare and memorable moment at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15, 2026, two films tied for the Best Live Action Short Film Oscar: “The Singers,” directed by Sam A. Davis, and “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” directed by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata. This marks only the seventh tie in the Academy’s history CBS News.

A Rare Occurrence

The announcement, made by presenter Kumail Nanjiani, initially caused confusion, and amusement. Nanjiani emphasized, “It’s a tie. I’m not joking. It’s actually a tie,” before proceeding to announce both winners NBC News.

Acceptance Speeches and Reactions

Sam Davis, director of “The Singers,” expressed surprise and gratitude, stating, “A tie. Wow. I didn’t recognize that was a thing, a tie, but we’re happy to be up here.” Natalie Musteata, of “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” echoed the sentiment, expressing her happiness at sharing the award with “The Singers” NBC News.

Nanjiani playfully remarked during the presentations, “Ironic that the short film Oscar is going to capture twice as long.”

First Wins and Nominations

This win represents the first Oscar for both Sam A. Davis and Jack Piatt (producer of “The Singers”). Davis had previously received one Oscar nomination. For Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh, this was their first Oscar nomination and win NBC News.

Singh’s Commentary and a Lighthearted Jab

Alexandre Singh used his acceptance speech to highlight the diversity of the film’s team and emphasized the power of art to effect change. He stated that art can “change people’s souls” and even “change society through art, through creativity, through theater and ballet and also cinema,” prompting laughter from the audience NBC News. This comment was a playful reference to recent remarks made by Timothée Chalamet regarding the relevance of ballet and opera.

Historical Context of Oscar Ties

Prior to this year, the Academy Awards had seen six previous ties. One of the earliest occurred at the 5th Academy Awards, where Fredric March and Wallace Beery shared the award for Best Actor. However, that outcome was based on a rule that awarded a tie if the runner-up was within three votes of the winner – a rule that has since been changed CBS News.