The 2026 Oscars (98th Academy Awards) are scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026 , airing live at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT in the U.S. on ABC, with streaming available on Hulu and other official platforms like Oscar.com and the Academy’s channels.

Quick Scoop: When Are the Oscars On?

  • Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Main broadcast time (U.S.):
    • 7:00 p.m. ET.
* 4:00 p.m. PT.
  • Channel: ABC (live nationwide in the U.S.).
  • Streaming: Hulu plus official Academy/Oscars online platforms (Oscar.com, Oscars.org, ABC app, some live TV streamers like FuboTV).
  • Where: Dolby Theatre, Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Think of it as the movie world’s Super Bowl night: same Sunday-night energy, but with gowns and gold statues instead of helmets and touchdowns.

Mini Sections

What time should you actually sit down?

If you want to catch everything, including some pre-show buzz:

  1. Red carpet coverage often begins around 3:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. ET on major outlets and official streams.
  1. Main ceremony kicks off at 4:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. ET.
  1. Expect the show to run for several hours, as the Academy has kept a slightly earlier start time in recent years to make the night feel more “watchable” for East Coast audiences.

In practice, if you’re in the U.S. and don’t want to miss any big wins or viral speeches, being in front of your screen by that top-of-the-hour start time is a safe bet.

How to watch depending on where you are (high-level)

While exact international broadcast partners vary by country, the core pattern looks like this:

  • United States:
    • Watch live on ABC via cable or antenna.
* Stream on **Hulu** (with live TV) and through the **ABC app** for eligible subscribers.
  • Online extras worldwide:
    • Red carpet clips, backstage moments, and highlights typically appear on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, and the Academy’s official social channels during and after the show.

If you’re outside the U.S., local TV/movie networks frequently license the show, but the specific channel depends on your region and broadcaster deals, which the Academy aggregates via its official Oscar site.

Why the date matters this year

The 2026 ceremony is the 98th Academy Awards , honoring films released in 2025. A few notable bits:

  • There are 24 categories , including a new award recognizing achievement in casting , which is a big nod to one of the most influential but often under-celebrated crafts in filmmaking.
  • A vampire thriller titled Sinners leads with a record-breaking 16 nominations , making it one of the most closely watched titles of the night, in line for Best Picture, Director, and multiple acting awards.

So this isn’t just another Oscars night; it’s a slightly historic one, both for the record nomination count and the addition of that new casting category.

Forum-style chatter & trending context

“So… when are the Oscars on this year, and is it worth watching live?”

From the perspective of online discussion and “latest news,” a few threads tend to dominate:

  • “When are the Oscars on?” is spiking as the date approaches, especially in the week leading up to March 15, as viewers compare time zones and streaming options.
  • Film forums and social feeds are buzzing about:
    • Whether Sinners will actually convert its 16 nominations into big wins or become a “record loser.”
* Reactions to the new **casting** category and what it means for future awards.

You’ll also see the usual mix: red carpet fashion debates, host predictions, and arguments over which films “got snubbed” versus which ones are “overhyped,” all orbiting around that core question—“What time do I need to sit down to watch this live?”

Quick time-zone mental check

Here’s a simple time snapshot for the live ceremony start:

  • Eastern Time (US): 7:00 p.m.
  • Central Time: 6:00 p.m. (one hour earlier than ET).
  • Mountain Time: 5:00 p.m. (two hours earlier than ET).
  • Pacific Time: 4:00 p.m.

If you’re outside North America, a quick world clock check for March 15, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET will get you the equivalent local time.

TL;DR

  • The answer to “when are the Oscars on” this year:
    • Sunday, March 15, 2026 , live at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on ABC, with streaming on Hulu and official Oscar platforms.

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