The 2026 Academy Awards are shaping up to be one of the most competitive and talked-about ceremonies in recent years. Two films are dominating the conversation heading into Hollywood’s biggest night. Ryan Coogler’s horror epic Sinners leads the race with a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations, while the Leonardo DiCaprio-starring drama One Battle After Another follows closely with 13 nominations and strong momentum from earlier award ceremonies.
With Conan O’Brien returning as host, a brand-new Oscar category being introduced, and multiple acting races still wide open, the 2026 Oscars promise to deliver major surprises, intense competition, and plenty of memorable moments for movie fans worldwide.
When and Where to Watch the 2026 Oscars
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony will start at 7 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) and 4 p.m. Pacific Time (PT). In the United States, the Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC.
Viewers who prefer streaming can watch the ceremony live on Hulu, which is again offering a live stream this year. Fans can also watch through the ABC app or via abc.com with cable provider login credentials. Several live TV streaming services such as YouTube TV, FuboTV and Hulu + Live TV will also carry the ABC broadcast.
The Academy Awards will also air internationally through different networks around the world. For example, the ceremony will be shown on CTV in Canada and ITV1 in the United Kingdom. The full global broadcast list is available on the official Oscars website.
Sinners Dominates With 16 Oscar Nominations
The biggest story heading into the 2026 Oscars is the remarkable success of Sinners. Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror film, set in the Jim Crow South and rooted in Black cultural storytelling, has captured the attention of both critics and audiences.
The movie received 16 nominations, the most of any film this year and one of the highest totals in Oscar history. Its nominations span several major categories including acting, directing, screenplay and technical awards.
The film recently shocked many awards watchers when it scored a surprise win at the Actor Awards earlier this month. That victory helped revive its campaign and raised speculation that it could challenge the presumed front-runner for the top prize.
One Battle After Another Still the Favorite
Despite Sinners dominating the nominations list, One Battle After Another remains the strongest contender for best picture according to many awards analysts. The dystopian drama, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, has already secured several major awards during the precursor season.
The film earned 13 Oscar nominations and is widely expected to perform well in categories such as best director and adapted screenplay. Awards experts have pointed out that films with strong precursor performances often carry that momentum into Oscar night.
If the Academy follows its traditional voting patterns, One Battle After Another could still emerge as the biggest winner of the evening.
Best Picture Race Includes 10 Major Films
The best picture category this year features a diverse lineup of films from multiple genres and countries. The nominees include:
Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sentimental Value, Sinners, The Secret Agent and Train Dreams.
Among these contenders, Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro, and the Norwegian drama Sentimental Value also earned strong nomination counts with nine nominations each. Meanwhile, Train Dreams has been praised by critics for its emotional storytelling and visual style.
Acting Categories Could Bring Big Surprises
The acting races at the 2026 Oscars are among the most unpredictable in recent memory.
In the best actor category, nominees include Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent.
Chalamet has been considered the front-runner for much of the season, but Michael B. Jordan gained significant momentum after winning the Actor Awards. That upset has turned the category into one of the night’s most closely watched races.
The best actress nominees include Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, and Emma Stone for Bugonia.
Buckley currently appears to be the strongest favorite after winning several major precursor awards.
Conan O’Brien Returns as Oscars Host
Comedian and television host Conan O’Brien is returning to host the Academy Awards for the second consecutive year. His debut performance last year was widely praised for balancing humor with sharp commentary on Hollywood.
For his second appearance, audiences can expect playful jokes about the nominees, a few self-deprecating moments and possibly another comedic musical segment.
New Oscar Category Introduced
The 2026 ceremony will also introduce a brand-new competitive category: Best Casting. This marks the first new Oscar category added in more than two decades.
The five nominees for the inaugural award are Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent and Sinners. With this addition, the Academy Awards will now feature a total of 24 competitive categories.
Major Stars Joining as Presenters
The Academy has assembled a star-studded lineup of presenters for the ceremony. Last year’s acting winners — Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña — will return to present awards.
Other presenters scheduled to appear include Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman, Jimmy Kimmel, Pedro Pascal, Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Paul Mescal, Channing Tatum and Javier Bardem.
Actor Matt Berry will serve as the ceremony’s official announcer.
Red Carpet and Musical Performances
The official Oscars red carpet preshow will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu. The 30-minute program will be hosted by Tamron Hall and Jesse Palmer.
Meanwhile, E! will begin its unofficial red carpet coverage at 4 p.m. ET, offering extended celebrity interviews and fashion coverage.
The ceremony will also feature live performances of two nominated songs: Golden from KPop Demon Hunters and I Lied to You from Sinners. The remaining nominated songs will be showcased through special pre-recorded segments.
Hollywood’s Biggest Night Awaits
With Sinners leading the nominations, One Battle After Another carrying strong awards-season momentum, and several acting races still unpredictable, the 2026 Oscars could deliver one of the most exciting finishes in recent memory.
Whether the night ends with a historic victory for Sinners or a dominant sweep for One Battle After Another, the ceremony promises drama, surprises and unforgettable moments for film fans around the world.
