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Update: The 98th Academy Awards took place on Sunday, March 15, 2026. In the United States, ABC carried the ceremony live and Hulu provided the first live Hulu stream of the Oscars. Conan O’Brien hosted from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
The official red-carpet preshow began at 6:30 p.m. Eastern (3:30 p.m. Pacific), followed by the awards at 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. Pacific). This guide explains the original viewing options and the major results.
2026 Oscars: the essential details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 98th Academy Awards |
| Date | Sunday, March 15, 2026 |
| Venue | Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles |
| Official red carpet | 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT |
| Awards broadcast | 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT |
| U.S. television | ABC |
| U.S. live stream | Hulu |
| Host | Conan O’Brien |
| Films eligible | Movies released in 2025 |
The Academy’s official ceremony page has the complete nominees and winners record.
How viewers watched in the United States
Antenna and local ABC
An antenna was the lowest-cost legitimate option for households that received a local ABC affiliate. Reception and channel availability depended on the viewer’s market; ABC’s national broadcast did not guarantee an over-the-air signal everywhere. Equipment costs still applied, but there was no separate Oscars subscription.
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Cable or satellite
Subscribers with ABC in their package could watch through their local channel. Eligible customers could also use ABC.com or the ABC app after authenticating with a participating television provider.
Hulu
Hulu carried the Oscars live for the first time. The relevant distinction was live television, not ordinary on-demand Hulu access: Hulu’s guide identified Hulu + Live TV as the plan that included ABC in most areas. Local-channel carriage varied by ZIP code, so viewers needed to check availability before relying on it. See Hulu’s explanation at How to Watch the Oscars.
Other live-TV streaming services
The Academy’s watch guide listed YouTube TV, FuboTV and DIRECTV/AT&T TV as possible routes to a local ABC feed. These were ongoing live-TV subscriptions, not single-event purchases. Channel lineups, prices, promotional terms and local ABC carriage differed by market and could change.
| Setup | Best suited to | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Antenna plus ABC | Viewers with reliable local reception | Weak-signal areas may not receive the affiliate |
| Existing cable or satellite | Households already paying for television | ABC and authenticated streaming depend on the provider and market |
| Hulu + Live TV | Viewers seeking Hulu’s live stream | Plan and ZIP-code eligibility must be confirmed |
| YouTube TV, Fubo or DIRECTV | Cord-cutters wanting a broader channel package | Ongoing subscription and local ABC availability are required |
Watching from outside the United States
The ceremony was distributed in more than 200 territories, but rights holders differed by country. ABC and Hulu were U.S.-specific answers, not worldwide services. International viewers needed to consult local television listings or the Academy’s regional guidance rather than assume a U.S. stream would work.
Red carpet versus the awards show
The official ABC lead-in started at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT, 30 minutes before the ceremony. Tamron Hall and Jesse Palmer hosted that official preshow, which focused on arrivals, interviews and fashion. Third-party entertainment coverage could begin earlier, but 6:30 p.m. ET was the authoritative start for the Academy/ABC red-carpet program. Anyone tuning in at 7 p.m. missed the official arrivals coverage.
The preshow was separate from the awards broadcast. Keeping those start times distinct avoids the common mistake of treating the entire evening as one program.
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What made the 98th Oscars distinctive?
Conan O’Brien’s second consecutive hosting assignment
O’Brien returned as host for a second straight Oscars ceremony. Raj Kapoor served as executive producer and showrunner, with Katy Mullan as executive producer, according to the Academy’s production announcement at press.oscars.org.
The first competitive Casting Oscar
The ceremony introduced the Academy Award for Achievement in Casting, the first competitive Oscar recognizing casting. One Battle after Another won, with Cassandra Kulukundis credited. The Academy’s rules announcement explains the category at the official press office.
All 24 competitive categories on the broadcast
Contemporary reporting said the televised ceremony included all 24 competitive awards, including Casting, rather than moving selected technical categories out of the main show. The Associated Press account is available at AP News.
Presenters and performances
The Academy announced presenters including Rose Byrne, Nicole Kidman, Jimmy Kimmel, Delroy Lindo, Ewan McGregor, Wagner Moura, Pedro Pascal, Bill Pullman, Lewis Pullman, Channing Tatum and Sigourney Weaver, among others. The full announcement is at the Academy Press Office.
The Academy also promoted a star-studded performance lineup in a separate announcement at press.oscars.org. The available official results record does not provide a complete performance-by-performance list, so individual numbers should not be inferred from presenter announcements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Major winners and storylines
Spoilers: The following section describes the final results.
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| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Picture | One Battle after Another |
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle after Another |
| Actor in a Leading Role | Michael B. Jordan, Sinners |
| Actress in a Leading Role | Jessie Buckley, Hamnet |
| Actor in a Supporting Role | Sean Penn, One Battle after Another |
| Actress in a Supporting Role | Amy Madigan, Weapons |
| Animated Feature Film | KPop Demon Hunters |
| International Feature Film | Sentimental Value (Norway) |
| Original Song | “Golden,” KPop Demon Hunters |
| Original Score | Sinners |
| Achievement in Casting | One Battle after Another |
For every category and nominee, use the Academy’s 2026 ceremony record or its Awards Database.
Common viewing problems and fixes
ABC is missing from the channel lineup
Check the local affiliate by ZIP code. If an antenna cannot receive a usable signal, compare a live-TV service that carries ABC in that market; no provider listed by the Academy was guaranteed nationwide.
Does regular Hulu include the live broadcast?
Not automatically. Confirm that the account has the live-TV plan and that local ABC carriage is available. On-demand Hulu access should not be treated as equivalent to Hulu + Live TV.
Can viewers watch without cable?
Yes. An antenna can provide local ABC where reception is sufficient, and eligible live-TV streaming services can replace a traditional television package.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhere can viewers verify the winners?
The Academy’s ceremony page and Awards Database provide the authoritative completed record. Availability of a full on-demand replay is not established by the cited viewing guides and should be checked with the relevant broadcaster or service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time did the 2026 Oscars start?
The awards ceremony began at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific on March 15, 2026. The official red-carpet preshow began at 6:30 p.m. Eastern / 3:30 p.m. Pacific.
Who hosted the 98th Academy Awards?
Conan O’Brien hosted the ceremony.
What was the new Oscar category in 2026?
Achievement in Casting was introduced as the first competitive Casting Oscar. One Battle after Another won it.
Quick Recap
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