LOS ANGELES, CA — The 98th Academy Awards take center stage this Sunday as Hollywood gathers at the Dolby Theatre for a night of celebration, suspense and live‑show spectacle. Conan O’Brien returns as host for the second year in a row, bringing his sharp wit and unpredictable energy back to the Academy’s biggest stage.

This year’s Oscars slate arrives with a historic headline: “Sinners” leads the field with a staggering 16 nominations, the most ever for a single film. Close behind is “One Battle After Another” with 13 nods, followed by “Hamnet” and “Frankenstein,” each earning nine and cementing their status as major contenders.

The best picture lineup spans an eclectic mix of genres and visions — from Guillermo del Toro’s Gothic reimagining of “Frankenstein” to the intimate emotional terrain of “Sentimental Value,” the high‑octane spectacle of “F1,” and the espionage intrigue of “The Secret Agent.”

See also: Oscars 2026 Predictions: Winners In All 24 Categories

Acting races are equally stacked, with Michael B. Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessie Buckley, Emma Stone, Rose Byrne, Timothée Chalamet and more vying for the Academy’s top honors. This ceremony also marks a milestone: the first year casting directors are honored with their own competitive Oscar, recognizing the artistry behind assembling the ensembles that bring these stories to life.

The stage is set, the contenders are ready, and Hollywood’s biggest night is about to unfold.

It’s anyone’s bet how the evening will play out, but there’s no doubt the Oscars will deliver the excitement, glamour, and unpredictability that define Hollywood’s most prestigious event.

Wondering when and where to tune in? Here’s how to watch the 2026 Oscars and all of its pre‑show events, so you can follow every twist and reveal in real time.

Where And When To Watch The 2026 Oscars Conan O’Brien returns as host of the 98th Academy Awards. (Disney)

2026 Oscars Red Carpet Preshow on E!, at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET

Looking for standout fashion and early buzz? E! kicks off 2026 Oscars red carpet coverage at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET, offering early arrivals, fashion moments and first‑look buzz before the evening ramps up. ABC follows with its official “Oscars Red Carpet Show” at 3:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. ET, leading directly into the ceremony and hosted by Tamron Hall and Jesse Palmer. Amelia Dimoldenberg, host of “Chicken Shop Date,” returns as the Academy’s social media ambassador, providing behind‑the‑scenes access across the Oscars’ digital platforms. Both preshows can also be streamed through YouTube TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV, as well as ABC.com and the ABC app for authenticated viewers.

“The 98th Oscars” on Sunday, March 15, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Ready to see whether your predictions hold up? The 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu as the ceremony returns to the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 15. The broadcast begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and will reach audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide. Viewers without a traditional TV setup can stream the show through YouTube TV, FuboTV, DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV, or watch on ABC.com and the ABC app with TV‑provider authentication.

2026 Oscars Performances

Ready for the musical moments everyone will be buzzing about? With the Academy aiming for a tighter, more cohesive broadcast — and introducing the new Casting Oscar — this year’s show places a sharper focus on the songs with the strongest global impact and audience connection. As a result, only two original songs will be performed live during the ceremony.

Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq from “Sinners” will take the stage to perform “I Lied to You,” joined by Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey and Alice Smith. The team behind “KPop Demon Hunters” — Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — will also perform their nominated song “Golden.”

The show will add a few extra musical touches, including appearances by Josh Groban and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Barbra Streisand is also expected to deliver a tribute to her “The Way We Were” co‑star Robert Redford during the In Memoriam segment.

2026 Oscars Presenters

Brimming with star power, this year’s presenter slate brings together some of Hollywood’s most recognizable names — from Robert Downey Jr. and Anne Hathaway to Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Gwyneth Paltrow — alongside a wide‑ranging group of performers and creators who’ve shaped the year’s biggest moments on screen. It’s a lineup built for unpredictability, charisma and a few early‑show highlights before the awards even begin.

Adrien Brody Anne Hathaway Chris Evans Chase Infiniti Demi Moore Gwyneth Paltrow Javier Bardem Kieran Culkin Kumail Nanjiani Maya Rudolph Mikey Madison Paul Mescal Priyanka Chopra Jonas Robert Downey Jr. Will Arnett Zoe Saldaña 98th Academy Awards List Of Nominees Best Picture “Bugonia” “F1” “Frankenstein” “Hamnet” “Marty Supreme” “One Battle After Another” “The Secret Agent” “Sentimental Value” “Sinners” “Train Dreams” Best Director Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another” Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme” Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value” Chloé Zhao, “Hamnet” Best Actor Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme” Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another” Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon” Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners” Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent” Best Actress Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet” Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue” Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value” Emma Stone, “Bugonia” Best Supporting Actor Benicio Del Toro, “One Battle After Another” Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein” Delroy Lindo, “Sinners” Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another” Stellan Skarsgard, “Sentimental Value” Best Supporting Actress Elle Fanning, “Sentimental Value” Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, “Sentimental Value” Amy Madigan, “Weapons” Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners” Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another” Cinematography “Frankenstein” “Marty Supreme” “One Battle after Another” “Sinners” “Train Dreams” Editing “F1” “Marty Supreme” “One Battle After Another” “Sentimental Value” “Sinners” Sound “F1” “Frankenstein” “One Battle after Another” “Sinners” “Sirât” Visual Effects “Avatar: Fire and Ash” “F1” “Jurassic World Rebirth” “The Lost Bus” “Sinners” Makeup and Hairstyling “Frankenstein” “Kokuho” “Sinners” “The Smashing Machine” “The Ugly Stepsister” Adapted Screenplay “One Battle After Another” “Hamnet” “Bugonia” “Train Dreams” “Frankenstein” Original Screenplay “Blue Moon” “It Was Just an Accident” “Marty Supreme” “Sentimental Value” “Sinners” Original Score “Bugonia” “Frankenstein” “Hamnet” “One Battle after Another” “Sinners” Animated Short “The Three Sisters” “Retirement Plan” “Forevergreen” “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” “Butterfly” Documentary Short “All the Empty Rooms” “Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud” “Children No More: “Were and Are Gone”” “Perfectly a Strangeness” “The Devil Is Busy” Live-Action Short “Butcher’s Stain” “A Friend of Dorothy” “Jane Austen’s Period Drama” “The Singers” “Two People Exchanging Saliva” Documentary Feature “The Alabama Solution” “Come See Me in the Good Light” “Cutting through Rocks” “Mr. Nobody against Putin” “The Perfect Neighbor” Production Design “Frankenstein” “Hamnet” “Marty Supreme” “One Battle After Another” “Sinners” International Feature “The Secret Agent,” Brazil “It Was Just an Accident,” France “Sentimental Value,” Norway “Sirat,” Spain “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” Tunisia Casting “Hamnet” “Marty Supreme” “One Battle after Another” “The Secret Agent” “Sinners” Animated Feature “Arco” “Elio” “KPop Demon Hunters” “Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” “Zootopia 2”