Film
Marty Supreme
Ping-pong gets its Goodfellas with this cartwheeling caper starring an on-fire Timothée Chalamet
So there it is, The Great Oscars 2026 Narrative is locked in: it’s Sinners vs One Battle After Another; Ryan Coogler vs Paul Thomas Anderson; Michael B Jordan vs Leonardo DiCaprio; vampires vs ’70s-coded counter-revolutionaries. Because for a few months every year, art is a competition. Choose your fighter.
Okay, we jest (a bit), because whichever of this year’s worthies walks away with Best Picture, the runners up with be nothing but gracious and full of admiration – and that’ll be a fitting end to another earnest and overlong awards season. That said, a surprise Sinners shut-out will keep the hot takes industrial complex on overtime.
There’s other hot prospects in a not wildly unexpected line-up of nominees, include Jessie Buckley for Hamnet, but it may be that the night’s biggest surprises are all delivered by host Conan O’Brien and the roster of guest stars and presenters. Here’s to another showstopping Adam Sandler cameo.
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When are the 2026 Oscars?
The 98th Academy Awards go down Sunday, March 15, 2026. The Oscars were typically held in late February before Covid pushed the date out, but the mid-March date is the latest they’ve been held since 2022. Earlier would be better. Just saying.
Where are the Oscars being held this year?
The ceremony returns to the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, which has served as the show’s host venue since 2002.
Who is hosting the 98th Academy Awards?
Conan O’Brien is our favourite host since Billy Crystal and before him, Jon Stewart, and he’s going back-to-back after a triumphant turn in 2025.
O’Brien’s maverick energy, self-effacing but pinsharp wit and leftfield comic genius have been ever-present on his talkshows, podcasts and stand-up sets. Expect him to double down on everything that made last year’s hosting gig such a joy, with multiple mentions of his newfound acting chops.
What time does the ceremony start?
Good news, Brits: this year, the telecast begins an hour earlier than usual. It airs on ABC starting at 7pm Eastern Time and 4pm Pacific Time in the US, and midnight in the UK. Of course, that probably just means they’ll add an extra hour to the ceremony, so you’ll still be going to bed champagne-drunk at 4am.
How many categories are there?
There are 25 categories this year, with a new Best Casting bracket introduced for the first time for 2026. See all the nominees here.
Who has won the most Oscars?
Are we talking cumulatively? Then that’s still Walt Disney, who holds the record at 22; he even won one posthumously. No one else comes particularly close: his closest living competitor is effects artist Dennis Muren, who has nine. John Ford is the most decorated director, having won four, while Katharine Hepburn remains the top actor, also with four. None of those records are under threat of being broken this year. In terms of movies in a single year, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Titanic and Ben-Hur all won 11. With a record-breaking 16 nominations – the most in Oscars history – Sinners has the chance to smash all records. Given the competition, we wouldn’t bet on it happening.
How can I watch the Oscars?
In the US, just find your local ABC station – as has been the case for almost 50 years now – as well as streaming sites like Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV.
In the UK, the Oscars will be broadcast on their new home of ITV and ITVX for the second straight year, after its switch from Sky TV. You can watch it on Seven Network and 7PLUS in Australia. If you live elsewhere, the Academy website has a list of where you can watch in a variety of countries.
