The 98th Academy Awards, commonly known as the 2026 Oscars, are scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The ceremony will return to its longtime home at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, with Conan O’Brien confirmed to return as the host.
The ceremony will air live on ABC starting at 7:00 PM ET (4:00 PM PT) in the United States. The timings and channels will vary in different regions around the world. For viewers who prefer to stream, the ceremony will be available on Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, and other platforms that offer live ABC broadcasts.
2026 Oscars shortlist, nominees announcement, new award category and more
The 2026 Oscars official list of nominees is scheduled to be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026. On December 17, 2025, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially released the shortlists for the 2026 Oscars. These lists represent the films that have survived the first round of voting in 12 specific categories.
Wicked: For Good and Sinners are the top contenders so far, having eight different shortlists each. This includes categories like Visual Effects, Sound, and the brand-new Casting award. Additionally, both movies stood out in the music categories as well, with each having two different songs move forward on the Original Song shortlist.
Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro, followed closely behind with six shortlist mentions. The film earned spots in categories such as Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, and Visual Effects, which highlights the high quality of its technical production.
One Battle After Another and Sinners have both been shortlisted for Best Cinematography. Along with Wicked: For Good and the Spanish film Sirât, these movies are now considered the frontrunners until the final nominations are announced later this month.
Additionally, this year, the Academy is adding a brand-new award: Achievement in Casting. This is the first new category added to the Oscars since Best Animated Feature was introduced in 2001.
This award recognizes the casting directors who work behind the scenes to find the perfect actors for every role in a movie. The Academy decided to add this category to honor how essential casting is to a film’s success.
With 24 total categories now part of the ceremony, the 2026 Oscars will be a longer and more inclusive celebration of filmmaking. Once the nominees are officially announced on January 22, the final voting will take place in February, leading up to the big night at the Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026.
Where to stream the 2026 Oscars? All streaming options for different regions
The ceremony will be available to stream across various platforms depending on your location. The ceremony is scheduled to air live on Sunday, March 15, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT in the United States. Because the event is broadcast in over 200 territories, the timing and streaming apps change based on where you are. Here is a simple guide to the options and local times:
Here is a breakdown of the official start times for the 2026 Oscars ceremony in various regions around the world:
Stay tuned for more updates on the 2026 Oscars.
Edited by Suchita Patnaha
