2026 Independent Spirit Awards: ‘Train Dreams’ and ‘Adolescence’ Take Top Honors

The 41st Independent Spirit Awards, celebrating the best in independent film and television, took place on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Hosted by “Saturday Night Live” alum Ego Nwodim, the ceremony saw “Train Dreams” and “Adolescence” emerge as major winners.

Film Awards

“Train Dreams” received the Best Feature award, with producers Michael Heimler, Will Janowitz, Marissa McMahon, Ashley Schlaifer, and Teddy Schwarzman accepting the honor. Other nominees in the Best Feature category included “Peter Hujar’s Day,” “The Plague,” and “Sorry, Baby.”

Best Lead Performance Nominees

The competition for Best Lead Performance was fierce, with nominees including:

• Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
• Everett Blunck, “The Plague”
• Kathleen Chalfant, “Familiar Touch”
• Chang Chen, “Lucky Lu”
• Joel Edgerton, “Train Dreams”
• Dylan O’Brien, “Twinless”
• Keke Palmer, “One of Them Days”
• Théodore Pellerin, “Lurker…”

Red Carpet Style

The event also showcased stunning fashion choices from attendees. Kaia Gerber commanded attention with her Givenchy dress and Jimmy Choo shoes , even as other stars made their mark with equally impressive looks.

• Nina Dobrev wore Carolina Herrera
• Keke Palmer donned vintage Dior by John Galliano
• Rose Byrne was styled in Loewe
• Tessa Thompson wore Collina Strada
• Kirsten Dunst wore Valentino
• Zoey Deutch wore Valentino

Other notable attendees included Regina King in Etro, Issa Rae, Mark Hamill, and many more, solidifying the Independent Spirit Awards as a key event in the awards season calendar.