- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Sean Penn Skips 2026 Oscars Despite Best Supporting Actor Nomination
The actor has a complicated history with awards shows and previously considered melting down his two Oscar trophies.
Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:49pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Despite being nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in "One Battle After Another," Sean Penn did not attend the 2026 Oscars ceremony. Penn has a history of skipping awards shows, including the Actor Awards and BAFTA Awards earlier this year, even when he has won. The actor has a complicated relationship with Hollywood and awards, at one point considering melting down his two previous Oscar wins to provide ammunition for Ukraine's war against Russia.
Why it matters
Penn's absence from major awards shows, even when nominated, highlights his ongoing tensions with the entertainment industry and its accolades. His willingness to part with his Oscar trophies also speaks to his political activism and desire to use his platform for causes beyond just his acting career.
The details
Penn received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2026 Oscars for his role in "One Battle After Another." However, he did not attend the ceremony, just as he had skipped the Actor Awards and BAFTA Awards earlier in the year, even after winning those honors. In the past, Penn has been nominated for Best Actor Oscars in 1996, 2000, and 2002 but did not attend those ceremonies either. The actor has had a complicated relationship with awards shows and Hollywood, at one point telling Variety that he considered melting down the two Oscars he had previously won in order to provide Ukraine with ammunition for its war against Russia. While he ultimately did not melt the trophies, he did give one to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, telling him to keep it and bring it to Malibu after the war is over.
- Penn was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2026 Oscars.
- Penn previously won Best Actor Oscars in 2004 and 2009 for "Mystic River" and "Milk" respectively.
- In 2023, Penn told Variety he considered melting down his Oscar trophies to provide Ukraine with ammunition.
The players
Sean Penn
An American actor who has won two Best Actor Oscars and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2026 for his role in "One Battle After Another." Penn has a complicated relationship with awards shows and Hollywood.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The President of Ukraine, to whom Penn gave one of his Oscar trophies, telling him to keep it and bring it to Malibu after the war is over.
What they’re saying
“I thought, well, f**k, you know? I'll give them to Ukraine. They can be melted down to bullets they can shoot at the Russians.”
— Sean Penn
“I told him to keep it and bring it to Malibu after all this is over and his country is safe.”
— Sean Penn
The takeaway
Sean Penn's absence from the 2026 Oscars, despite a nomination, underscores his longstanding tensions with Hollywood and its awards system. His willingness to part with his own Oscar trophies to support Ukraine's war effort further demonstrates his political activism and desire to use his platform for causes beyond just his acting career.
