- Primary Subject: 98th Academy Awards Best Live-Action Short Film
- Key Update: The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva tied for the win at the 2026 Oscars.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: March 16, 2026
- Quick Answer: Sam A. Davis’ The Singers and Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata’s Two People Exchanging Saliva shared the 2026 Oscar for Best Live-Action Short Film.
Sam A. Davis’ The Singers and Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata’s Two People Exchanging Saliva both won the coveted Best Live-Action Short Film at the 2026 Oscars.
While this may be a rare occurrence, it is not the first time it has happened in Academy history. In fact, ties have occurred six times before.
So, here are the six rare Oscar ties in the Oscars’ 98-year history.
Best Actor: Fredric March and Wallace Beery
The first tie at the Oscars occurred when Fredric March and Wallace Beery both won the Best Actor award for their performances in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Champ at the 5th Academy Awards in 1932.
At the time, the Academy’s rules stated that anyone who received three more votes than their competitors would win the prize. While Fredric March received just one more vote than Wallace Beery, they each took home a statue that night.
The Academy later clarified the rules, stating that only “true” ties, where nominees receive the exact same number of votes, would be allowed to win together.
Best Documentary Short: So Much for So Little and A Chance to Live
After 18 years, two films tied in the Best Documentary Short category at the 1950 Oscars.
At the time, four films were vying for the title, but So Much for So Little and A Chance to Live shared the award.
Commissioned by the US government and produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons, making it part of the Looney Tunes collection, So Much for So Little is a 10-minute animated short about the importance of healthcare and public health agencies.
A Chance to Live, on the other hand, runs 18 minutes and tells the story of an Irish priest and the institution he founded for orphaned boys after being displaced following World War II. Evidently, these two films deserved the honor.
Best Actress: Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand
The next tie happened in 1969 and easily became the most famous tie in Oscars history after Katherine Hepburn and newcomer Barbra Streisand shared the Best Actress award for their films The Lion in Winter and Funny Girl.
But compared to the previous ties, this one proved to be controversial.
Streisand first played the role of Funny Girl’s Fanny Brice on Broadway in 1964 and reprised the role in her very first movie, a 1968 film adaptation.
However, as a newcomer, she only became eligible for the Oscars after then-president Gregory Peck personally invited her.
Usually, new Academy members must meet certain criteria, such as appearing in at least three major films, to be invited into the voting body.
Another way is to win or receive a nomination for an Oscar, which grants eligibility in the year following the ceremony.
So, while Streisand may have deserved her award, many people were upset and even criticized Peck, claiming the singer-actress was rushed into membership due to “studio politics or pressure,” a claim he “categorically rejected.”
Best Documentary: Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got and Down and Out in America
Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got and Down and Out in America tied in the Best Documentary (Feature) category in 1987, defeating three other nominees.
For those who don’t know, Down and Out in America was directed by four-time Supporting Actress nominee and one-time winner for the 1975 film Shampoo, Lee Grant.
However, at the time, no one who had won an Acting Oscar could win a Directing Oscar, so the award went to the producer, Joseph Feury, who was also her husband.
But under today’s rules, she would have won the 1987 Oscar for directing this documentary.
Best Live-Action Short Film: Trevor and Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life
In 1995, Trevor and Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life tied in the Best Live-Action Short Film category.
Interestingly, Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life was written and directed by Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi.
It centers on George Bailey, a man who sacrifices his dreams to help others despite feeling hopeless on Christmas Eve.
Trevor, meanwhile, is about a 13-year-old boy who struggles with being different and bullied by his peers. As he faces rejection and misunderstanding, he attempts to take his own life but receives support from unexpected sources.
Sound Editing: Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall
The latest tie occurred in 2013 when Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall both won the Sound Editing category.
Mark Wahlberg was presenting the award at the time. When he finally announced that there was a tie, the audience couldn’t help but let out a strong gasp.
However, the actor didn’t want to ruin the night and told everyone, “No B.S.!”
He then announced that Paul N.J. Ottosson’s Zero Dark Thirty and Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers’s Skyfall were the winners.
By the looks of it, the 2026 Oscars won't be the last time a tie happens.
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