Ludwig Göransson accepted the Academy Award for original score for the film “Sinners” at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, marking his third Oscar in the category.
Ludwig Göransson Wins His Third Original Score Oscar
Göransson won the prize for original score for the blues-infused vampire gangster musical “Sinners, ” beating fellow nominees Jerskin Fendrix for “Bugonia, ” Max Richter for “Hamnet, ” Jonny Greenwood for “One Battle After Another, ” and Alexandre Desplat for “Frankenstein. ” This victory follows earlier Academy Awards for Göransson for 2018’s “Black Panther” and 2023’s “Oppenheimer. “
On the Oscars stage, Göransson credited his father’s lifelong devotion to music for shaping his path. He said his father bought his first blues album in Sweden in 1964, eventually gave him a guitar and opened up his musical world. Göransson added that the guitar led him to the film’s director, Ryan Coogler, calling Coogler “one of the greatest storytellers of our time. “
Why the Score Stood Out and What the Win Means
“Sinners” is presented as a bluesy, vampire, gangster musical that explores life in the Jim Crow South. The film follows two brothers returning to Mississippi in 1932 to open a juke joint after service on the German front in World War I and time learning from Al Capone in Chicago. It is also framed as a story about love and the transporting power of the blues.
The film entered the night with a record-setting 16 nominations and has been described as blending horror with musical storytelling. A live Oscar-stage performance from the film featured Miles Caton singing “I Lied to You” alongside Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, and Wunmi Mosaku during the ceremony.
When nominations were announced in January, Göransson said he was grateful for the recognition and described the project as a family affair, noting the long-term collaboration among the team on the film. He emphasized the movie’s focus on blues music and the guitar as central elements to the story and its cultural lineage.
Göransson’s third win for original score reinforces his continued presence in the awards landscape for film music. The victory recognizes a score built around blues traditions tied to the film’s setting and characters and follows his prior successes on projects that also drew significant awards attention.
With the Academy Awards concluded, attention will turn to how “Sinners” and its achievements influence the broader conversation about genre-blending films and the role of music in storytelling. For Göransson, the night capped a project that he and collaborators described as rooted in musical heritage and creative teamwork.
