The 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15, 2026, featured a historic win for Sean Penn, but the actor was nowhere to be found in the Dolby Theatre. Penn took home the trophy for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film One Battle After Another. This victory marks the actor’s third career Oscar win, adding to his previous Best Actor trophies for Mystic River and Milk.

Instead of walking the red carpet, Penn was thousands of miles away in Ukraine. On Monday, March 16, 2026, the actor met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Penn has been a long-time supporter of the nation, and his travel schedule to the region prevented him from attending the Hollywood ceremony in person.

The absence was officially acknowledged during the live broadcast by presenter Kieran Culkin. While it is rare for a major category winner to miss the event, Penn’s commitment to his work in Ukraine took precedence over the awards stage. Fans and industry peers quickly took to social media to discuss the high-profile absence once his whereabouts were confirmed.