The 98th Academy Awards take place Sunday, March 15, 2026, with Sinners leading the field at a record 16 nominations. The ceremony will be hosted by Conan O’Brien and airs live on ABC and via live stream on Hulu at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with red-carpet coverage beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET. Performers scheduled for the broadcast include K-Pop Demon Hunters’ HUNTR/X and Sinners star Miles Caton; only two nominated songs will be performed live. This guide explains where to watch, who’s nominated and what to expect from the show.
Key takeaways
- Sinners leads the nominations with 16 nods, the most in Oscars history; One Battle After Another follows with 13 nominations.
- The 98th Academy Awards air Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on ABC and stream live on Hulu; red carpet starts at 3:30 p.m. ET.
- Conan O’Brien returns as host for a second consecutive year; presenters include a long list of film stars such as Adrien Brody, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Robert Downey Jr.
- Only two nominated songs will be performed: “Golden” (K-Pop Demon Hunters) and “I Lied To You” (Sinners); featured artists include EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq.
- Hulu will carry the Oscars live even on an ad-supported basic plan; ABC remains the broadcast partner for the U.S. telecast.
- Red carpet and preview programming begin hours before the telecast, offering interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage on ABC and Hulu.
Background
The Academy Awards are the film industry’s annual awards ceremony, produced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This year’s ceremony is the 98th edition of the show, continuing a multi-decade tradition that blends awards, performances and on-stage moments aimed at a global audience. In recent years the Oscars have navigated shifts in viewing habits, rights deals and streaming partnerships; the arrangement with ABC and Hulu reflects those changes, making the show accessible to traditional broadcast viewers and online streamers alike.
Sinners’ 16 nominations mark a milestone in Oscar history and place the film as the front-runner heading into the ceremony, while One Battle After Another’s 13 nominations signal strong support across major categories. Other films—Marty Supreme, Frankenstein, Sentimental Value and Hamnet—appear repeatedly across ballots, setting up a competitive field in directing, acting, technical and writing categories. Industry observers have watched nomination tallies closely because they can reshape awards-season narratives and marketing plans for the films involved.
Main event: what to expect Sunday
The live broadcast will open at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on March 15, 2026, following several hours of pre-show coverage that begins at 3:30 p.m. ET. ABC will carry the national telecast; Hulu will stream the show live in the U.S., including on certain lower-tier plans that normally do not include live-TV access. Viewers outside the U.S. should check local broadcasters and streaming partners for regional availability.
Conan O’Brien returns as host, bringing his late-night background and sense of timing to the ceremony. Presenters confirmed for the night include Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin, Zoe Saldaña, Javier Bardem, Chris Evans, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Maya Rudolph, Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Paul Mescal and Gwyneth Paltrow. The show will mix awards presentations with musical performances and pre-produced film tributes.
Only two nominated songs will be showcased live: “Golden” from K-Pop Demon Hunters (performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami) and “I Lied To You” from Sinners (performed by Miles Caton with Raphael Saadiq). Producers have said the choice to limit nominated-song performances is intended to keep the running time manageable while still featuring high-profile musical moments. The ceremony also highlights technical categories, with major awards such as Best Picture, Directing and the leading acting categories reserved for the main telecast.
2026 Oscar nominations (full list)
Actress in a Supporting Role
- Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
- Amy Madigan, Weapons
- Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
- Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
Makeup and Hairstyling
- Frankenstein
- Kokuho
- Sinners
- The Smashing Machine
- The Ugly Stepsister
Music (Original Score)
- Bugonia
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- One Battle After Another
- Sinners
Live Action Short Film
- Butcher’s Stain
- A Friend of Dorothy
- Jane Austen’s Period Drama
- The Singers
- Two People Exchanging Saliva
Animated Short Film
- Butterfly
- Forevergreen
- The Girl Who Cried Pearls
- Retirement Plan
- The Three Sisters
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
- Bugonia
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- One Battle After Another
- Train Dreams
Writing (Original Screenplay)
- Blue Moon
- It Was Just An Accident
- Marty Supreme
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
Actor in a Supporting Role
- Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
- Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
- Delroy Lindo, Sinners
- Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
- Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value
Casting
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sinners
Costume Design
- Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- Sinners
Music (Original Song)
- “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless
- “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters
- “I Lied To You” from Sinners
- “Sweet Dreams Of Joy” from Viva Verdi!
- “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams
Documentary Feature Film
- The Alabama Solution
- Come See Me in the Good Light
- Cutting Through Rocks
- Mr. Nobody Against Putin
- The Perfect Neighbor
Documentary Short Film
- All the Empty Rooms
- Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
- Children No More: Were and are Gone
- The Devil is Busy
- Perfectly a Strangeness
International Feature Film
- The Secret Agent, Brazil
- It Was Just an Accident, France
- Sentimental Value, Norway
- Sirat, Spain
- The Voice of Hind Rajab, Tunisia
Animated Feature Film
- Arco
- Elio
- Kpop Demon Hunters
- Little Amelie or The Character of Rain
- Zootopia 2
Production Design
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- Sinners
Film Editing
- F1
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
Sound
- F1
- Frankenstein
- One Battle After Another
- Sinners
- Sirat
Visual Effects
- Avatar: Fire and Ash
- F1
- Jurassic World Rebirth
- The Lost Bus
- Sinners
Cinematography
- Frankenstein
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- Sinners
- Train Dreams
Actor in a Leading Role
- Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
- Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
- Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
- Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
- Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Actress in a Leading Role
- 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
Directing
- Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
- Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme
- Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
- Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
- Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Best Picture
- Bugonia
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Train Dreams
Comparison & data
| Film | Top confirmed nominations |
|---|---|
| Sinners | 16 |
| One Battle After Another | 13 |
The table highlights the two films with confirmed tallies reported in the nomination release. Several other films—Marty Supreme, Frankenstein, Sentimental Value and Hamnet—received multiple nominations across major and technical categories; their totals consolidate competition in directing, acting and craft awards, and will influence voting blocs in the final round.
Analysis & implications
Sinners’ record 16 nominations amplify its momentum in awards-season narratives, but high nomination counts do not guarantee sweep. Historically, films with dominant nomination totals still face splits across voting constituencies—actors, directors, craftspeople—and aggregate tallies may translate into wins in technical categories even if Best Picture or major acting awards go elsewhere. Voter preferences and campaign strategies in the days before voting deadlines remain decisive.
The decision to stream the telecast live on Hulu, including availability on ad-supported tiers for this event, underscores evolving distribution strategies for live awards programming. For ABC the arrangement preserves network reach while Hulu attracts live-viewing subscribers and publicity; commercially, it can broaden advertiser exposure and subscriber conversions tied to event viewership. International rights and local broadcast windows will shape the ceremony’s global ratings and promotional impact.
Musical performances—limited this year to two nominated songs—reflect producers’ attempts to balance airtime with spectacle. That choice narrows the field of live music but concentrates attention on the selected performances, which may boost streaming and social-media traction for the artists involved. Likewise, a roster of high-profile presenters aims to sustain mainstream appeal and generate headline moments that drive post-show clips and conversation.
Reactions & quotes
Organizers and industry figures issued short statements in response to the nominations and broadcast plans; producers emphasize celebration of craft, while talent and audiences prepare for a condensed but star-studded telecast.
“We congratulate this year’s nominees and look forward to honoring their work.”
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (official statement)
Producers promoted the limited live-song slate as a programming choice to keep the show focused while still featuring marquee performances.
“I’m excited to host another night of surprises and to celebrate filmmaking with audiences worldwide.”
Conan O’Brien (host)
Public reaction on social platforms has centered on Sinners’ historic nomination total and on which film will turn nominations into wins, a typical mix of industry analysis and fan betting ahead of the ceremony.
Unconfirmed
- International streaming windows: availability outside the U.S. varies by territory and regional partners; some local broadcast/stream windows remain unconfirmed.
- Additional surprise performances or tributes sometimes announced the day of the ceremony are not finalized in the public schedule.
- Any last-minute presenter changes or wardrobe/protocol developments may occur and are typically reported during red-carpet coverage.
Bottom line
The 98th Academy Awards offer a mix of headline moments—the record 16 nominations for Sinners, a returning Conan O’Brien, and a streamlined set of musical performances—delivered across broadcast and live streaming platforms. For U.S. viewers, ABC and Hulu provide the primary access points: tune in at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with red-carpet programming beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET.
While nomination totals shape expectations, winners will reflect branch voting and the dynamic of late-season campaigning. Viewers planning watch parties should confirm local streaming or broadcast access ahead of time, and expect social-media highlights and post-show analysis to drive the conversation after the telecast.
Sources
- Yahoo Entertainment (entertainment news report summarizing broadcast and nominations)
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (official nominations and Academy statements)
- ABC (broadcaster information and programming)
- Hulu (streaming partner details)