Oscars 2026: Sean Penn skips ceremony to meet Ukraine President Zelenskyy, who calls him a ‘true friend’

Actor Sean Penn missed the 98th Academy Awards ceremony this year despite winning Best Supporting Actor, choosing instead to travel to Ukraine for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Penn received the award for his role in One Battle After Another, but was not present at the ceremony. During the broadcast, the award was accepted on his behalf, with presenter Kieran Culkin noting that Penn “couldn’t be here this evening — or didn’t want to.”

Images of Penn’s visit were later shared by Zelenskyy on social media, where the Ukrainian leader expressed gratitude for the actor’s continued support. “Sean, thanks to you, we know what a true friend of Ukraine is,” Zelenskyy wrote. “You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war. This is still true today.”

Penn has been actively involved in Ukraine since the early stages of the conflict, including through his documentary Superpower, which he co-directed and which focuses on Zelenskyy and the country’s wartime experience.

The actor has frequently combined his film career with humanitarian and political engagement. Speaking previously about his approach to activism, Penn said his work across different fields is driven by a similar mindset. “It all feels like you’re always looking to be value added,” he said, adding that decisions often involve weighing broader consequences.

Penn’s absence from the Oscars follows a pattern of selective participation in awards events. Earlier in the year, he declined to attend several major ceremonies despite receiving recognition for his performance.