when do the oscars red carpet start

The 2026 Oscars red carpet coverage starts in the mid‑afternoon U.S. time on the day of the ceremony, with different outlets kicking off at slightly different times.

Quick Scoop

• The 98th Academy Awards take place today, Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

• The main Oscars telecast begins at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on ABC.

• E!’s big red carpet show (Live From E!: Oscars 2026) starts at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT.

• ABC’s official red‑carpet pre‑shows begin earlier in the afternoon:
  • On the Red Carpet at the Oscars (or similar branded pre‑show) kicks off around 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT on ABC/Hulu.

* Additional ABC red‑carpet segments roll from roughly 3:30–6:30 p.m. ET, leading directly into the main broadcast.

So if you just want a simple rule of thumb:

• Tune in around 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT for ABC’s first big Oscars red carpet coverage.

• Tune in at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT if you mainly care about the E! red carpet show.

TL;DR: The Oscars red carpet “really” gets going between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Eastern (12:30–1 p.m. Pacific), a few hours before the 7 p.m. ET ceremony.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.