Sean Penn Skips Oscar Win, Prioritizes Ukraine Visit

The actor's absence from the ceremony drew mixed reactions from the audience and fellow nominees.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:57pm

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Sean Penn won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in the film "One Battle After Another," but was a no-show at the ceremony. Instead, the actor was in Ukraine visiting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, continuing his activism work in the country. Penn's absence was met with a mix of reactions, with some feeling it was a missed opportunity for the outspoken actor to use the platform to make a statement, while others saw it as Penn prioritizing his humanitarian efforts over the Hollywood awards show.

Why it matters

Sean Penn's decision to skip the Oscars ceremony, where he was awarded his third career Oscar, sparked debate about the role of celebrity activism and whether Penn missed a chance to amplify important causes on a global stage. His ongoing work in Ukraine has been a major focus for the actor, but his absence also highlighted the tension between Hollywood self-congratulation and using awards shows to drive social and political change.

The details

When Kieran Culkin announced that Penn had won the Oscar for Best Actor, he quipped that Penn "couldn't be here this evening—or didn't want to." The other nominees, including first-time nominee Delroy Lindo, were shown reacting with a mix of politeness and what appeared to be disappointment that Penn did not attend to accept the award in person. Penn has skipped the Oscars ceremony three times before, but this year his absence was due to his plans to visit Ukraine and meet with President Zelensky, continuing Penn's activism work in the country. The actor had previously gifted one of his Oscars to Zelensky as a "symbol of faith" that Ukraine would prevail in the war against Russia.

  • On Sunday, March 16, 2026, the 98th Academy Awards ceremony took place.
  • Earlier that day, Sean Penn met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The players

Sean Penn

A three-time Oscar-winning actor who was awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his role in the film "One Battle After Another." Penn has a reputation for outspoken political activism, including his ongoing work in support of Ukraine following Russia's invasion.

Kieran Culkin

The actor who presented the Best Actor Oscar and made a quip about Penn's absence from the ceremony.

Delroy Lindo

A veteran actor who was nominated for his first Oscar for his role in the film "Sinners." He was shown reacting with apparent disappointment to Penn's absence from the ceremony.

Volodymyr Zelensky

The President of Ukraine, who met with Sean Penn in Kyiv on the day of the Oscars ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“Sean Penn couldn't be here this evening—or didn't want to, so I'll be accepting the award on his behalf.”

— Kieran Culkin, Presenter

“Sean Penn, a true friend of Ukraine.”

— Volodymyr Zelensky

What’s next

It remains to be seen how Sean Penn's decision to prioritize his Ukraine activism over attending the Oscars ceremony will be received. Some have criticized the move as a missed opportunity, while others have praised Penn for staying focused on his humanitarian efforts. The actor's future awards season plans, and whether he will attend future Oscars ceremonies, are still unclear.

The takeaway

Sean Penn's absence from the Oscars, where he won his third career Best Actor award, sparked debate about the role of celebrity activism and whether high-profile awards shows should be used as platforms for social and political causes. Penn's decision to visit Ukraine instead highlighted the tension between Hollywood self-celebration and using major events to drive change on global issues.