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Oscar ties made history tonight at the 98th Academy Awards for the first time since 2013. Two brilliant short films drew identical votes in one of Hollywood’s rarest moments. The unexpected deadlock left presenters, audiences, and filmmakers stunned.
🔥 Quick Facts
- The Tie: The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva both won Best Live Action Short Film
- Historic Rarity: Only the 7th tie in nearly 100 years of Academy Awards history
- Last Occurrence: 2013, when Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall tied for Sound Editing
- Presenter: Kumail Nanjiani announced both winners during an unforgettable moment
When Lightning Strikes Twice in One Category
The Academy handed out dual Oscars tonight for the Best Live Action Short Film category, making voters literally unable to choose between these two powerful works. The Singers, directed by Sam A. Davis and produced by Jack Piatt, earned its golden statue alongside Two People Exchanging Saliva, a French-language dystopian drama written and directed by Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh. Without a clear victor emerging from the voting ballots, both films claimed the award in a moment that perfectly captured the evening’s unpredictability.
Past Oscar ties have emerged in different categories since the awards began in 1929, but they remain extraordinarily uncommon. The Academy had gone over a decade without experiencing this phenomenon at all. This 2026 tie represents a historic validation of both films’ universal excellence.
Oscar ties happen tonight for first time since 2013, Best Live Action Short brings rare win for two films
Kendall Jenner covers Vogue France March in seductive Renell Medrano photos
The Singers Captures Hearts with Intimate Humanity
Sam A. Davis, already an Academy Award nominee, created a tender story that resonated with voters. The Singers follows down-on-their-luck men discovering unexpected connection through music. Netflix acquired and globally released the film on February 13, 2026, giving it incredible reach before tonight’s big win. The documentary-style approach and authentic casting made this short unforgettable.
The film stars Mike Young, Chris Smither, Will Harrington, Judah Kelly, and Matthew Corcoran. Davis cast unknown voices discovered online, lending raw authenticity to his vision. This win rewards both the director’s innovative casting methods and the performers’ genuine emotional depth.
The Rarest Award Ties in Academy History
| Year | Category | Winners |
| 1932 | Best Actor | March and Beery (tied vote) |
| 1949 | Best Documentary | Two films shared award |
| 1968 | Best Actress | Hepburn and MacLaine |
| 1986 | Best Documentary | Second tie in category |
| 1995 | Best Live-Action Short | Two films shared award |
| 2013 | Sound Editing | Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall |
| 2026 | Best Live-Action Short | The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva |
“It’s a tie for Best Live Action Short Film. Both The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva won the award.”
— Kumail Nanjiani, Oscar Presenter
Two People Exchanging Saliva Brings Dystopian Brilliance
The second winner takes audiences into a darkly imaginative world where kissing means death and currency is measured in slaps. Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh created this French-language short film as a meditation on repression and forbidden desire. The absurdist premise becomes increasingly haunting as the plot unfolds. An unhappy woman finds unexpected connection with a salesgirl, sparking jealousy and dangerous consequences in their oppressive society.
Music supervision by Taylor Rowley and the experimental narrative structure earned this film recognition from festival circuits worldwide. Tonight’s Oscar win validates Musteata and Singh’s bold vision of a society where human touch becomes an act of rebellion itself.
What Does an Oscar Tie Mean for History Books?
Academy Oscar ties transcend typical awards competition because they suggest voting voters simply could not separate two films’ merits. Both works arguably deserve recognition equally. The tie honors excellence without ranking one above the other, recognizing that art sometimes defies numerical comparison. Fans of either film can celebrate tonight knowing the Academy validated their choice at the highest level possible.
This historic 7th tie in Academy Awards history marks the first time since 2013 that voters tied their ballots. The rarity makes tonight’s ceremony unforgettable. Both The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva now join an exclusive club of films that achieved such perfect parity in voting.
