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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.
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.
If by now you’re just wildly confused by it all, well, join the club honestly. But also join the nearest viewing party, because this will be one Oscars worth staying up for. Surprises are guaranteed in race that’s too close to be called and on a night that will put heavy pressure on Conan O’Brien to turn bitter recrimination in solid LOLs. Which he will somehow manage in that nervy-genius way of his.
Here’s what you need to know.
When are the Oscars 2026?
The 98th Academy Awards take place at LA’s Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 15 – two weeks later than last year.
What time will the Oscars air in the UK?
In excellent news for movie-loving night owls in the UK, this year’s Academy Awards will again start an hour earlier than its traditional LA start time. The ceremony itself kicks off at 11pm.
How to watch the Oscars in the UK
After a run of years of Sky broadcasting ended in 2024, the Oscars will continue on free-to-view this year. The whole ceremony, and red carpet bits, will be airing on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in the UK. Hosted by Jonathan Ross, the shindig gets underway at 10.15pm. If you don’t fancy staying up that late, it’ll be available for catch up on ITVX too.
Tune in to find out who will be winning and maybe even finding their way onto our pantheon of Academy Awards all-timers.
Who is hosting 2026’s ceremony?
Conan O’Brien is back for his second hosting go-round after delivering the goods in 2025. His compèring was on point, with a mix of self-effacing lines, gentle bigs at the assembled A-listers and lots of his trademark twitchy charm. ‘A Complete Unknown, A Real Pain, Nosferatu... just some of the names I was called on the red carpet,’ being a sample zinger.
We’re confident he’ll nail it again, despite more beyond-challenging geopolitical context to acknowledge. ‘My job is to always try and hit this very, very thin line between entertaining people and also acknowledging some of the realities,’ he said in this week’s pre-show press conference.
Question is, will he have Adam Sandler back for some more good-natured fashion chat? Altogether now: ‘Chaaa-la-maaaay!’
Everything you need to know about the 98th Academy Awards.
Next year’s Oscar race starts here: the best movies of 2026 (so far).