The Academy Awards returns for its 98th edition as the Oscars 2026 ceremony takes place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
This year’s event celebrates the best films released in 2025 and is already drawing attention because of record nominations, tight competition, and increased security.
When And Where To Watch Oscars 2026
The ceremony will air live from the Dolby Theatre.
Time schedule:
-
7:00 PM ET
-
4:00 PM PT
-
11:00 PM GMT
The show will air on ABC and will also be streamed on Hulu.
Red carpet coverage starts earlier in the day on ABC and E!.
Conan O’Brien Returns As Host
Comedian Conan O’Brien will host the Oscars for the second year in a row.
He joked that he agreed to host again just to hear Adrien Brody give another long speech after last year’s ceremony.
Film With Most Nominations
The movie Sinners leads the nominations with 16, breaking the old record of 14 nominations held by:
-
Titanic
-
La La Land
-
All About Eve
Another strong contender is One Battle After Another with 13 nominations.
Security Increased After Iran Threat Warning
Security has been tightened after the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned about a possible drone attack in California linked to tensions involving Iran.
Authorities said no specific target was confirmed, but extra protection was added around the event.
New Category Introduced
For the first time in years, the Academy will present a new award:
Achievement in Casting
Nominees include casting directors from films like:
-
Hamnet
-
Marty Supreme
-
The Secret Agent
-
Sinners
Another new category for stunt performance will be introduced in future Oscars.
Big Stars Presenting Awards
Some of the presenters announced include:
-
Robert Downey Jr
-
Anne Hathaway
-
Chris Evans
-
Priyanka Chopra
-
Pedro Pascal
-
Nicole Kidman
-
Channing Tatum
-
Sigourney Weaver
Last year’s winners will also present awards.
Performances During The Show
Live performances will include songs from nominated movies, including:
-
Golden from KPop Demon Hunters
-
I Lied To You from Sinners
Artists, actors, and dancers will take part in special tribute performances.
Who Is Expected To Win
Early predictions suggest strong chances for:
-
KPop Demon Hunters – Best Animated Film
-
Jessie Buckley – Best Actress
-
Michael B. Jordan – Best Actor
-
Sinners vs One Battle After Another in major categories
However, several categories remain open and could go either way.
