The 2026 Advanced Imaging Society Lumiere Awards brought together filmmakers, technology innovators, and industry leaders to celebrate one of cinema’s most overlooked but increasingly important aspects: technological storytelling. Unlike traditional awards that focus on acting or directing, the Lumiere Awards spotlight excellence in cinematic technology, including advanced imaging, immersive audio, HDR visuals, animation innovation, and virtual production.
Organized annually by the Advanced Imaging Society, the ceremony honors films, television series, and immersive media projects that push the boundaries of how stories are experienced on screen. Over the years, the awards have become a respected benchmark within Hollywood’s technical community, highlighting productions that combine creative ambition with groundbreaking production techniques.
This year’s awards were dominated by projects that showcased innovation across multiple genres. Sinners emerged as the biggest live-action winner, claiming top honors for Best Feature Film – Live Action and Best Theatrical Audio. Disney’s Zootopia 2 led the animation field with the Best Animated Feature award, while Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good secured Best Motion Picture – Musical, reinforcing the film’s growing awards momentum.
Television and streaming projects also played a major role in the ceremony. Andor Season 2 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man were recognized for episodic storytelling excellence, while Stranger Things Season 5 and Severance highlighted the rising production quality of modern television through wins in HDR and sound design categories.
Other technical achievements included recognition for Avatar: Fire and Ash for a standout cinematic sequence and KPop Demon Hunters for both musical and song categories, reflecting the awards’ commitment to celebrating innovation across diverse storytelling formats.
Full List of 2026 Lumiere Awards Winners
Film & Major Categories
- Best Feature Film – Live Action: Sinners
- Best Feature Film – Animation: Zootopia 2
- Best Motion Picture – Musical: Wicked: For Good
- Best Documentary: The King of Color
Episodic & Television Awards
- Best Episodic – Live Action: Andor Season 2
- Best Episodic – Animation: Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
- Best Audio – Episodic: Severance
Audio & Music
- Best Audio – Theatrical: Sinners
- Best Original Song: “Golden” — KPop Demon Hunters
- Best Musical Scene or Sequence: KPop Demon Hunters — “Golden”
Technical Achievement & Visual Innovation
- Best Use of High Dynamic Range (HDR) – Feature Film: F1
- Best Use of High Dynamic Range (HDR) – Episodic: Stranger Things Season 5
- Best Theatrical Scene or Sequence: Avatar: Fire and Ash — “Flux Devil”
Immersive & Specialty Categories
- Best International 3D Documentary: NHK – The Mark of Beauty: Tokyo Imperial Palace
- Best Virtual Reality Experience: Dolphins of the Reef
Special Honors & Industry Recognition
- Judy Garland Legacy Award: Jon M. Chu (Wicked: For Good)
- Harold Lloyd Award: Joseph Kosinski & Jerry Bruckheimer (F1)
- Distinguished Artist Award: Ethan Hawke
- Sir Charles Wheatstone Award: Google
- Governor’s Award for Cinema Excellence: VUE
- Production Technology Awards: AMD, DisneyResearch|Studios, Flawless, 6P Color, CoreWeave