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Oscar is one of the prestigious award events that honors artists who work in the movies. This award event includes cinemas and artists from all over the world and honors cinema in different languages, but only in English. So, it has been seen as one of the biggest platforms for artists of every genre to present their work and opinions. Oscar is mainly known for fashion, glamour, and the most recent addition is glambots. However, this year, the Oscars were seen as a platform, as actors, actresses, artists, and comedians raised their voices to promote peace over violence. During hosting, award giving, receiving, and even on the red carpet, attendees have shown their gestures through badges and opinions to speak out against the war in Palestine, Iran, and, obviously, against Donald Trump's harsh immigration policies.  

A silent protest against the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was seen on the red carpet. ICE was established to conduct criminal investigations, enforce immigration laws, preserve national security, and protect public safety. Although during the Trump administration, the activities of ICE have gone too far, according to 6 out of 10 Americans. Shooting and raids are conducted without any judicial warrant, and innocent people are being killed as well. Sara Bareilles was wearing an “Ice Out” pin, and other reporting noted that Malgosia Turzańska also wore one. It has been shown that the Oscars had fewer such protest accessories than the Grammys, but the symbolism was still strong enough to mark the ceremony as part of a wider entertainment-industry protest season. 

There are also pins worn by celebrities that symbolize calling for an end to the wars in Iran and Gaza. The most visible named example was Javier Bardem. The red-carpet coverage showed him wearing a “Palestine” pin and an anti-war patch, and news media later reported that he wore both “NO A LA GUERRA” and “Free Palestine” pins. Onstage, while presenting Best International Feature, Bardem made the politics explicit, saying: “No to war and free Palestine.” It is also seen that he linked his appearance to the anti-war slogan he had worn years earlier in protest of the Iraq war. Not only that, even a Palestinian stance was seen in the award ceremony, when The Voice of Hind Rajab, inspired by true events in Gaza, was a Best International Feature nominee. The film's director was disappointed when MotazMalhees, a Palestinian actor in The Voice of Hind Rajab, said he could not attend because of a U.S. travel ban imposed under the Trump administration. The artists of the film wore a new red Artists4Ceasefire pin on the red carpet. That added another layer to the event, not just generic anti-war language, but a highly identifiable symbol tied to Gaza and to a specific film about Palestinian loss. 

Host Conan O’Brien opened with jokes that carried a political edge, including a remark that viewers who disliked them could watch another show hosted by Kid Rock. Presenter Jimmy Kimmel also brought politics into the ceremony through humor, making jokes about free speech and taking a swipe at Donald Trump.

Another strong statement was made at the award ceremony when “All the Empty Rooms,” which won Best Documentary Short, was presented. The documentary was based on the Uvalde school shooting, which took place on May 24, 2022. A mass shooting occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, United States, where 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, a former student at the school, shot 19 students and 2 teachers, while injuring 18 others. Ramos was killed by law enforcement officers later. The award was received by Gloria Cazares, mother of 9-year-old Jackie Cazares, who was killed during the school shooting. While receiving the award, she spoke about her son and also spoke out against gun violence to draw attention to this serious issue. 

Here, it is shown that artists from all over the world paid a lot of attention to raising their voice against wrongdoings. Celebrities were wearing pins to show their protest against the war. Even “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” won Best Documentary Feature, a film about a Russian schoolteacher resisting Russia’s war on Ukraine.  While receiving the award, co-director and protagonist Pavel Talankin said, “stop all of these wars now,” and co-director David Borenstein spoke about how countries are normalizing the wrongdoings, and it is giving courage to the powerful ones to do whatever they want. He also said how the so-called influential and wise. Those strong remarks made the documentary win one of the night’s most overtly political acceptance moments. 

In the past, the actors were often expected to stay within the roles written for them, both on and off screen. The industry encouraged them to entertain, not to engage, certainly not to take any political stance, which can divide the audience and also affect their career. But at the 2026 Oscars, artists did not limit themselves to scripted lines or safe expressions. They spoke openly, wore their beliefs, and used one of the world’s most visible cultural stages to reflect their personal opinions. This shift conveys that actor today are no longer just performers. They also uphold public voices shaped by the realities around them. Here, it is clear that silence is no longer the default expectation. Now the artistes cannotbe a character in the movies, because they can also be an individual and the voice of many. 

•    Depanjali Roy is a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Disclaimer: Views in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect CGS policy