The Film Independent Spirit Awards have officially switched things up. This Sunday, the indie world traded windblown sand and beachy vibes for old-Hollywood drama as the show moved from Santa Monica State Beach to the historic Hollywood Palladium. And honestly, it felt exactly right! 

The Spirit Awards have long been one of awards season’s best parties, where rules are optional, speeches are candid, and fashion is fearless. This year, the room buzzed with laughter, great stories, and outfits begging to be discussed, including the stunning black Loewe dress with cascading blue, yellow, and green ruffles worn by Rose Byrne. The actor showed off her exquisite look while earning the Best Lead Performance award for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

After earning more than 30 Spirit Awards nominations, Sundance Institute–supported projects stood out across the show, with a new wave of filmmakers and artists stepping into the spotlight at the 41st Spirits. Eva Victor’s feature debut, Sorry, Baby, winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, took home the award for Best Screenplay, while Naomi Ackie won Best Supporting Performance for her role in the film. Writer-director Alex Russell was also recognized for his debut feature, Lurker, which earned the Best First Feature award after premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams, starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, won Best Feature, while Geeta Gandbhir’s The Perfect Neighbor earned Best Documentary. Throughout the ceremony, the spotlight remained firmly on indie cinema’s bold originality — and now, the Palladium’s storied walls have plenty more to talk about. Below, find all the 2026 Spirit Awards winners supported by Sundance Institute.