Happy movie Olympics to those who celebrate. Yes, Hollywood’s biggest night is back, with the 98th Academy Awards (also known as the Oscars) set to celebrate the best films and performances of the past year.
While the industry’s biggest stars are just hours away from walking the red carpet, for those of us tuning into Australia, the Oscars are actually a daytime affair. To make sure you’re tuned in as all the winners are announced, here’s exactly when and where to watch the 2026 Oscars in Australia, including the red carpet and ceremony start times.
What time do the Oscars start in Australia?
The 2026 Oscars take place on Sunday, March 15 in Los Angeles, but will air in Australia on Monday, March 16 due to the time difference.
For viewers across, the coverage (beginning with the red carpet) will kick off at the following local times:
9:30am AEDT — NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania
8:30am AEST — Queensland
9:00am ACDT — South Australia
8:00am ACST — Northern Territory
6:30am AWST — Western Australia
The actual ceremony will begin 30 minutes after these times.
Where to watch the Oscars in Australia
In Australia, the Oscars will be broadcast live on Seven Network, making it accessible via both free-to-air TV and streaming.
You can watch the ceremony live on Channel 7 with free-to-air broadcast, or stream it on 7Plus.
The broadcast will include the full ceremony from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, along with red carpet coverage and commentary.
Can you watch the Oscars on demand in Australia?
Yes. If you miss the live broadcast, the ceremony will also be available to stream later on 7plus, meaning you can catch up on the winners, speeches and red carpet moments after the live event.
Who is hosting the 2026 Oscars?
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by comedian and late-night legend Conan O’Brien, returning to lead the awards show once again.
Who is nominated at the 2026 Oscars?
The Oscars are notoriously competitive, but this year’s race is shaping up to be particularly tight. Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo Di Caprio, Michael B Jordan, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura will go head-to-head for Best Actor, while Jessie Buckley, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve, Emma Stone, and Rose Byrne are in the running for Best Actress.
Aussie Jacob Elordi is also in the mix for Best Supporting Actor thanks to his role in Frankenstein, as is musician Nick Cave for his original song, ‘Train Dreams’, and Production Designer Fiona Crombie, for Hamnet.
For more, you can get acquainted with our rundown on the full list of nominees.
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