The 98th Academy Awards witnessed a moment so rare that it has occurred only seven times in nearly a century. As presenter Kumail Nanjiani stepped onto the stage to announce the winner for ‘Best Live-Action Short Film,’ he left the audience in disbelief by declaring, “It’s a tie! I’m not kidding, it really is a tie.”

In a category that rarely steals the limelight, 2026 changed everything as ‘The Singers’ and ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva’ were both crowned winners. Nanjiani had to reassure the confused spectators that this was a legitimate deadlock, asking everyone to remain calm as they processed the dual victory.

Ties at the Oscars are incredibly scarce, with the first instance dating back to 1932. The most iconic tie remains the 1969 ‘Best Actress’ face-off between legends Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand. The last time such an event occurred was in 2013 for Best Sound Editing. By joining this elite list, this year’s Short Film category has etched its name in the history books of cinema.