Lead: The 98th Academy Awards unfolded at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 15, 2026, with Conan O’Brien as this year’s host. The ceremony — honoring the best films of the past year — was broadcast live on ABC and streamed on Hulu, with ABC7 running a live updates feed. A pre-show, “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars,” streamed in advance as nominees and guests arrived for the evening.
Key Takeaways
- The ceremony is the 98th Academy Awards, held March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and televised live on ABC and Hulu.
- Conan O’Brien served as the event host for the evening.
- Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. confirmed the Grammys will move to ABC next year, describing the change as a major platform shift.
- Performers and nominees attended a packed red carpet; ABC7’s photo gallery featured 39 highlights from arrivals and fashion moments.
- Actress Li Jun Li appears in a musical segment honoring the film Sinners and described the performance as “amazing” and overwhelming in a brief interview on the carpet.
- Oscar statuettes are finished with gold plating in New York; Epner Technology in Brooklyn and UAP Productions in New York’s Hudson Valley handle finishing and gilding responsibilities.
- ABC7’s live updates were last refreshed at 9:52 PM GMT on March 15, 2026.
Background
The Academy Awards, first presented in 1929, remain the film industry’s highest-profile annual ceremony, recognizing achievement across directing, acting, writing and technical categories. The Oscars traditionally combine awards, live performances and red-carpet coverage to reach a broad television and streaming audience worldwide. Production and distribution of the show have shifted over decades in response to audience habits, with broadcasters and streaming partners shaping access and promotional strategies.
Separately, the physical Oscar statuette has a long manufacturing lineage: casting and finishing have been carried out by specialist firms in New York for many years. That production chain underlines how the ceremony is a national production, even as the event’s cultural spotlight centers on Hollywood. Rights and platform changes in related awards shows — such as the Grammys’ move to ABC next year — also reflect shifting partnerships in live entertainment broadcasting.
Main Event
Red-carpet arrivals dominated the early evening as nominees, past winners and high-profile guests stepped out at the Dolby Theatre. Photographers and broadcast crews captured formal looks and brief interviews; ABC7 published a 39-image gallery highlighting notable fashions, with Jessie Buckley among the documented arrivals. The mood on the carpet combined celebration with industry attention toward awards contention and performances scheduled during the telecast.
Inside the Dolby Theatre, producers staged film clips, acceptance speeches and musical segments. One scheduled musical moment honored Sinners, with Li Jun Li participating in a performance sequence tied to the film; she told ABC7 she felt “over-stimulated” by seeing some of her idols on the carpet. Hosts and presenters kept the program moving while the Academy presented awards across its standard categories.
Earlier in the evening, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. addressed the camera about the Grammys’ impending move to ABC, calling the partnership “an opportunity for new energy” after five decades on other platforms. Meanwhile, production staff and craftspeople prepared Oscar statuettes and stage logistics; ABC7’s behind-the-scenes reporting noted the multi-company workflow that brings the statuette to its finished, gold-plated form.
Analysis & Implications
Broadcasting the Oscars live on a major network and a companion streaming service continues the industry trend of hybrid distribution aimed at maximizing both appointment viewing and on-demand reach. For ABC and Hulu, the telecast is an opportunity to attract an audience that still values live cultural moments, even as long-term viewership trends for awards shows have varied. Advertisers and studios watch these metrics closely because awards-season visibility can translate into box-office and streaming lift.
The choice of Conan O’Brien as host signals a preference for a comedic, personality-driven presentation that can bridge segments between awards and performances. Hosts with established television audiences can help maintain pacing and draw viewers who follow their late-night careers. That said, host-driven appeal only partially insulates the telecast from structural audience changes tied to platform fragmentation and changing viewing habits among younger demographics.
Harvey Mason Jr.’s comments about the Grammys moving to ABC suggest cross-programming potential: networks that secure multiple marquee live events can create promotional synergies, cross-sell advertisers and leverage shared production resources. However, contractual and scheduling details — including streaming rights, ad inventory and international distribution — will determine how much value flows from one property to another.
Comparison & Data
| Item | 2026 Detail |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 98th Academy Awards — Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles |
| Host | Conan O’Brien |
| Broadcast | ABC (live), Hulu (stream) |
| Statue finishing | UAP Productions (Hudson Valley) & Epner Technology (Brooklyn) — gold plating |
The table above summarizes production and distribution elements confirmed for the 2026 telecast. The statuette finishing process has been handled by New York firms for the better part of the last decade, per reporting on production partners; that split between casting/finishing and gilding is a logistical detail viewers rarely see but is important to the ceremony’s supply chain.
Reactions & Quotes
Recording Academy commentary and on-the-carpet interviews framed much of the pre-show narrative.
“We’re honored. We’re looking forward to the partnership,”
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO, The Recording Academy (on the Grammys moving to ABC)
Context: Mason spoke about the Grammys’ platform change and framed it as a fresh opportunity after decades on other networks, emphasizing partnership and potential energy for the awards.
“It’s going to be amazing. … I’m over-stimulated, so I’m so excited,”
Li Jun Li, actress (on the red carpet, ahead of a performance honoring Sinners)
Context: Li Jun Li gave a brief reaction on the carpet about participating in a musical segment tied to the film Sinners and described seeing industry figures as emotionally thrilling.
Unconfirmed
- Complete, final list of winners may not yet be reflected in this live feed; check official Academy announcements for finalized results.
- Details of the Grammys-ABC contract terms and revenue arrangements have not been disclosed publicly and remain unconfirmed.
Bottom Line
The 98th Academy Awards delivered the customary mix of awards, performances and red-carpet spectacle at the Dolby Theatre, with Conan O’Brien anchoring the evening’s presentation. Coverage underscored both on-stage moments and backstage production elements, from statuette finishing to broadcast partnerships that shape how audiences access the show.
Looking ahead, the move of the Grammys to ABC and the continued pairing of network and streaming distribution for marquee events suggest broadcasters will pursue bundled live properties to retain mass audiences. For viewers and industry watchers, the key follow-ups will be final ratings data, post-show industry reactions and how studios and streaming platforms leverage awards-season visibility in the weeks following the ceremony.