When are the Oscars 2026? 98th Academy Awards this Sunday, March 15

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• 🔥 Quick Facts
• When Are The Oscars 2026: Sunday, March 15 at 7 PM ET
• Sinners Dominates With Historic 16 Nominations — Will Horror Win Best Picture?
• Best Picture Race 2026: 10 Nominees Battle For The Top Prize
• Star-Studded Presenter Lineup: Who’s Presenting At The 2026 Oscars?
• How Can You Watch The Oscars This Sunday, March 15?
  • Sources

The 98th Academy Awards air this Sunday, March 15, bringing Hollywood’s biggest night in just days. Conan O’Brien hosts as Sinners makes history with a record-breaking 16 nominations. Here’s everything you need to know about the Oscars 2026 ceremony.

When Are The Oscars 2026: Sunday, March 15 at 7 PM ET

Mark your calendars, this is the moment Hollywood’s awards season reaches its crescendo. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony happens this Sunday evening, making it perfect timing for an awards-night watch party. The show begins at 7:00 PM ET on the East Coast and 4:00 PM PT for West Coast viewers. ABC will broadcast the ceremony live, and Hulu offers streaming for those with subscriptions. Don’t miss the red carpet action starting at 6:30 PM ET before the main event.

The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood hosts the main ceremony, a location steeped in Academy Awards history. With Conan O’Brien returning for his second consecutive year as host, expect sharp comedy and Hollywood’s best moments on full display this Sunday night.

Sinners Dominates With Historic 16 Nominations — Will Horror Win Best Picture?

Ryan Coogler’s visual masterpiece Sinners made Academy Awards history with an unprecedented 16 nominations, shattering the previous record of 14 held by films like All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land. The vampire epic earned nominations across major categories including Best Picture, Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, and Best Supporting Actress. This historic achievement positions Sinners as the favorite going into Sunday’s ceremony.

If Sinners wins Best Picture, it would mark a groundbreaking moment, as horror films rarely capture the top prize. Coogler earning his first-ever Best Director nomination alongside so many other technical achievements for the film demonstrates the breadth of his creative vision. The question now is whether the Academy will reward this record-setting performance in the highest categories.

Best Picture Race 2026: 10 Nominees Battle For The Top Prize

The Best Picture category features 10 nominees, each bringing unique storytelling to the conversation. Sinners leads the pack, but strong contenders include Bugonia, F1, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, One Battle After Another, Frankenstein, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme. According to Rotten Tomatoes aggregated critics’ scores, The Secret Agent ranks highest with 98% approval, followed by Sinners and Sentimental Value.

Best Picture Nominees	Key Details
Sinners	Record 16 nominations, directed by Ryan Coogler
The Secret Agent	Highest rated at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes
Bugonia	Features Emma Stone, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
F1	Produced by Brad Pitt, sports drama nominee

The competition is fiercer than ever this year, with strong performances and technical achievements across all categories pushing the Academy to difficult decisions.

Star-Studded Presenter Lineup: Who’s Presenting At The 2026 Oscars?

The Academy announced multiple waves of presenters for Sunday’s ceremony, featuring Hollywood’s A-list talent. Academy Award winners and iconic names include Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Paul Mescal in the latest round. Additionally, Kevin Costner, Chris Rock, Lady Gaga, Rosie Perez, Zoë Kravitz, and Yuh-Jung Youn were announced in earlier presenter lineups.

This prestigious roster of presenters guarantees memorable moments and award-giving elegance. Each presenter brings their own chemistry and charm to the stage, making Sunday’s ceremony feel fresh and engaging. Conan O’Brien as host will tie these moments together with his signature comedic timing.

How Can You Watch The Oscars This Sunday, March 15?

Getting ready to tune in this Sunday? The 98th Academy Awards airs live on ABC television at 7:00 PM ET, with the ceremony expected to run approximately three hours. Hulu subscribers can stream the entire ceremony live without cable, broadening access for viewers nationwide. For those with Disney+, the event will stream on the platform as well, giving multiple options for watching the ceremony from home.

The red carpet action kicks off earlier at 6:30 PM ET, offering fashion highlights and celebrity interviews before the main ceremony begins. If you’re planning a watch party, start gathering friends now, because this awards show promises surprising moments, major announcements, and history-making achievements from Sinners and other nominated films.

Sources

• USA Today – Complete guide to 2026 Oscars date, time, and streaming information
• The Academy – Official 98th Academy Awards information and presenter lineup announcements
• Rotten Tomatoes – Best Picture nominees ranked by critical review scores