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.