The 2026 Oscars ceremony is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Eastern Time (4 p.m. Pacific) on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Quick Scoop: When will the Oscars start?

Here’s the core info you’re probably looking for about when will the Oscars start this year:

  • Official ceremony date: Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Start time (ceremony): 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
  • Location: Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles.

Red carpet and pre-shows:

  • Official Oscars red carpet pre-show: Starts about 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT on ABC and streaming.
  • Earlier E! red carpet coverage: Begins around 4 p.m. ET.

So if you just want to watch the awards themselves, tune in a bit before 7 p.m. ET; if you love fashion and arrivals, you can start watching as early as late afternoon U.S. time.

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