Hold onto your seats, because the 24th VES Awards just shook up the visual effects world! James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash dominated the night with four wins, but it wasn’t a clean sweep—Apple Original Films’ F1 snatched the Outstanding Compositing & Lighting award, proving that even the biggest blockbusters face fierce competition. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite Avatar’s staggering $1.47 billion global box office haul, some argue its technical achievements overshadow its storytelling. What do you think? Does visual innovation always trump narrative depth? Let’s debate in the comments!
Hosted by the Sklar Brothers and set to a classic rock soundtrack, the ceremony kicked off with Zootopia 2 winning Outstanding Environment in an Animated Feature. Fun fact: this sequel is now the highest-grossing Hollywood film ever, raking in billions worldwide. And this is the part most people miss: an 87-year-old classic, The Wizard of Oz at Sphere, took home a 2026 VES Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project—proving that timeless stories can still dazzle with modern tech.
On the TV front, Disney+’s Andor led with two wins, including Outstanding Environment and Practical Effects. Meanwhile, The Last of Us grabbed the Compositing and Lighting trophy, tying with Stranger Things and Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age for four nominations each. BMW also stole the spotlight with two wins for its heartwarming commercial, ‘Heart of Joy: Meet Okto the Octopus.’
The In Memoriam segment honored VES legends like Roger Allers and Greg Cannom, reminding us of the human artistry behind the digital magic. And in a bold move, the VES Awards celebrated Jerry Bruckheimer and Richard Taylor with Lifetime and Visionary Awards, respectively. But here’s a thought-provoking question: with only five VES winners matching the Oscars’ FX category since 2013, are these awards truly predictive of Academy glory? Or do they carve their own path?
Below is the full list of 2026 VES winners and nominees. Dive in, and tell us: which win surprised you the most? And which snub still stings?
