So, you’re looking for the red carpet, the high-stakes speeches, and maybe another viral moment that’ll live on the internet for the next decade. Honestly, it’s that time of year again. If you’re trying to figure out when are the Academy Awards this year, you need to circle March 15, 2026, on your calendar.
The 98th Academy Awards are officially happening on Sunday, March 15.
It’s kind of interesting how the date moves around. Last year it was early March, but they’ve pushed it a tiny bit deeper into the month this time. The whole thing kicks off live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. If you’re a stickler for timing, the broadcast starts at 7:00 PM ET (which is 4:00 PM PT for those of you on the West Coast). They’re sticking with the "earlier" start time that they adopted a couple of years ago, which—let’s be real—is a total win for anyone on the East Coast who doesn't want to be up until 1:00 AM watching a Best Picture winner they haven't seen yet.
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Before the statues are handed out, there’s the whole "getting nominated" drama.
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Nominations are coming out on Thursday, January 22, 2026. Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman are handling the honors this year. If you want to catch that live, you’ll have to be an early bird. It’s set for 5:30 AM PT / 8:30 AM ET. It's basically the Super Bowl for film nerds, where we all pretend we aren't surprised when a massive blockbuster gets snubbed for an indie film from Denmark.
When are the Academy Awards this year and who’s running the show?
Conan O’Brien is back.
Seriously. After a pretty solid run, the Academy brought him back for a second consecutive year. It feels like a safe, funny choice. He’s got that self-deprecating vibe that works well when you’re standing in a room full of the most famous people on the planet. Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan are executive producing again, which usually means the production will be slick, but hopefully not too "packaged."
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One thing that's actually new and sort of a big deal? This is the first year they are awarding a Best Achievement in Casting. People in the industry have been screaming for this for decades. It's about time.
How to actually watch the thing
You've got options. If you still have a digital antenna or cable, it’s on ABC. Simple. But if you’ve cut the cord, you can stream it on Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, or FuboTV.
Interestingly, the Academy is leaning harder into streaming. You can find the pre-show on Oscar.com and even TikTok. The main event will also be available on the ABC app if you can authenticate with a provider.
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Key things to remember for the 98th Oscars:
- The Main Event: Sunday, March 15, 2026.
- The Time: 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT.
- The Venue: Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
- The Host: Conan O'Brien.
- The "New" Statue: Best Casting category joins the lineup.
There’s a lot of chatter about which movies are going to dominate. We’re looking at films like Hamnet and Marty Supreme as potential heavy hitters. Whether you’re there for the fashion or the actual cinematic merit, knowing when are the Academy Awards this year is just the first step in prepping for your watch party.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, make sure you check out the nominations on January 22. That's when the real "I can't believe they didn't nominate [insert actor here]" discourse starts. Once that list is out, you've got about seven weeks to catch up on the movies you missed before the big night in March.
Get your ballot ready. It's going to be a long night, but a good one.