What time do the 2026 Oscars start? The 98th Academy Awards began at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 15, 2026, after the official red-carpet preshow at 6:30 p.m. ET. ABC broadcast the ceremony and Hulu streamed it live in the United States.
Key takeaways
- The 2026 Oscars ceremony began at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
- The official Oscars red-carpet and preshow coverage began at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT.
- The 98th Academy Awards aired on ABC and streamed live on Hulu in the United States.
- Conan O’Brien hosted the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
- The Academy listed the start as 11:00 p.m. GMT and 7:00 a.m. CST, with the CST listing falling on Monday, March 16, 2026.
What time do the 2026 Oscars start?
The 2026 Oscars ceremony started at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time and 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The official red-carpet and preshow broadcast started at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT. The event has already taken place, because the current date for this article is August 14, 2026. The Academy’s official viewing guide listed the ceremony at 7:00 p.m. EDT, 4:00 p.m. PDT, 11:00 p.m. GMT and 7:00 a.m. CST.
| Event | Eastern Time | Pacific Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official red carpet and preshow | 6:30 p.m. ET | 3:30 p.m. PT | Sunday, March 15, 2026 |
| 98th Oscars ceremony | 7:00 p.m. ET | 4:00 p.m. PT | Sunday, March 15, 2026 |
| Ceremony, official GMT listing | — | — | 11:00 p.m. GMT, March 15, 2026 |
| Ceremony, official CST listing | — | — | 7:00 a.m. CST, Monday, March 16, 2026 |
What time did the Oscars red carpet start?
The official Oscars red-carpet and preshow coverage started at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT on March 15, 2026. That was 30 minutes before the ceremony itself. The Academy Press Office confirmed the schedule in its March 10, 2026 announcement, which stated that the live red-carpet show would air at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT and the Oscars would follow at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT.
“Tune in to the 98th Oscars at the new time of 7:00pm EDT / 4:00pm PDT / 11:00pm GMT / 7:00am CST.”
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The quoted schedule came from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ official viewing guide. The listed 7:00 a.m. CST time was on Monday, March 16, 2026, for viewers following that time-zone display.
Where could viewers watch the 2026 Oscars?
U.S. viewers could watch the 2026 Oscars live on a local ABC station or stream the ceremony live on Hulu. The Academy also listed ABC.com and the ABC app for viewers with an authenticated participating TV-provider login. The official Disney and ABC guide to the 98th Oscars confirmed the ABC broadcast and Hulu streaming options.
| Viewing method | What it offered | Access consideration | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local ABC station | Live ceremony broadcast | Required access to a local ABC channel | United States |
| Hulu | Live streaming of the ceremony | Required a Hulu account and applicable current service access | United States, subject to availability and terms |
| ABC.com or ABC app | Digital access to the live broadcast | Required an authenticated participating TV-provider login | United States, subject to ABC access rules |
| International local broadcaster | Local live coverage where offered | Availability and start time varied by territory | Outside the United States |
Readers looking for a historical record rather than a live stream can explore an Academy Awards history book, such as Robert Osborne’s 85 Years of the Oscar. The Academy described the 2013 book as covering ceremony history by decade, nominee and winner listings, Oscar records and more than 750 photographs. The book is historical background, not a guide to the 2026 ceremony, and current edition, condition, price and availability should be checked before purchase.
Could viewers outside the United States watch the Oscars?
The 2026 Oscars aired live in more than 200 territories, according to the Academy Press Office. International viewers did not have one universal streaming platform: broadcast rights, platforms and local start times varied by territory. Viewers outside the United States needed to check their local broadcaster or listings for the appropriate 2026 replay or archive information.
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Conan O’Brien hosted the 98th Academy Awards. The ceremony took place at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and honored films released in 2025. The official 2026 Academy Awards ceremony archive provides the event’s official historical record.
What did the 2026 Academy Awards recognize?
The Walt Disney Company stated that the Academy recognized achievements across 24 competitive categories at the 98th Academy Awards. The ceremony’s schedule, venue and viewing arrangements were specific to the 2026 event; readers should not assume that a later Oscars ceremony will use the same start time, host or streaming platforms without checking that year’s official announcement.
Do the 2026 Oscars start at the same time as future ceremonies?
No. The 2026 Oscars started at 7:00 p.m. ET, but future Academy Awards can have different dates, start times, hosts, broadcasters or streaming arrangements. The Academy’s official viewing guide and the relevant year’s broadcaster announcement are the reliable sources to check before using a future event’s schedule. Hulu availability, subscription terms and regional access are also changeable and should be verified for the specific year.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the short answer for the 2026 Oscars schedule?
The 2026 Oscars began at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The official red carpet began at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT. ABC carried the ceremony in the United States, while Hulu streamed it live; the 98th Academy Awards were hosted by Conan O’Brien at the Dolby Theatre.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What time did the 2026 Oscars start?
The 2026 Oscars started at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The official red-carpet and preshow coverage began at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT.
Were the 2026 Oscars on ABC or Hulu?
The 2026 Oscars aired live on ABC and streamed live on Hulu in the United States. ABC.com and the ABC app were also listed for authenticated viewers with a participating TV-provider login.
What time were the 2026 Oscars in GMT and CST?
The Academy listed the 2026 Oscars at 11:00 p.m. GMT on March 15, 2026, and 7:00 a.m. CST on Monday, March 16, 2026. International broadcast availability varied by territory.
Who hosted the 2026 Oscars?
Conan O’Brien hosted the 98th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The ceremony honored films released in 2025.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The 2026 Oscars started at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 15, 2026, after the 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT official red-carpet preshow. ABC and Hulu carried the U.S. broadcast, and Conan O’Brien hosted at the Dolby Theatre.
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