Who won the Academy Award for Best Director most recently?

Paul Thomas Anderson won the most recent Academy Award for Best Director, in 2026.

Who has won the Academy Award for Best Director the most times?

Alfonso Cuarón holds the record with 2 wins on file at X-Badge.

Where does this winners list come from?

Each entry is researched from official award announcements and verified before it is minted as a badge on X-Badge. New ceremonies are added as they happen.

AWRD

All awards

Academy Award for Best Director winners

The complete winners list, newest first — 12 winners on the wall, from 1994 to 2026.

Most winsAlfonso Cuarón2 wins

Winners by year

Every winner on record

2026

Paul Thomas Anderson Mar 15, 2026 2025

Sean Baker Mar 2, 2025 2024

Christopher Nolan Mar 3, 2024 2023

Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert Mar 12, 2023 2021

Chloé Zhao Apr 25, 2021 2020

Bong Joon-ho Feb 9, 2020 2019

Alfonso Cuarón Feb 24, 2019 2018

Guillermo del Toro Mar 4, 2018 2014

Alfonso Cuarón Mar 2, 2014 2007

Martin Scorsese Feb 25, 2007 1999

Steven Spielberg Mar 21, 1999 1994

Steven Spielberg Mar 21, 1994

About this list. Every entry is researched from official Academy Award for Best Director announcements and verified before it becomes a badge on X-Badge. The record currently spans 12 winners between 1994 and 2026; new ceremonies are added as they happen. Click any winner for the full story — who, when, where and why it mattered.