2026 Oscars Start Time and Full Schedule for 98th Academy Awards
The 2026 Oscars are tonight. The 98th Academy Awards take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The main ceremony starts at 7:00 PM Eastern Time and 4:00 PM Pacific Time. ABC airs the show live and Hulu streams it for all subscribers at no extra cost.
What Time is the Oscars 2026?
The 2026 Oscars start at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
ABC broadcasts the ceremony live across the United States. Hulu streams it live for all subscribers at the same time. Conan O’Brien hosts the 98th Academy Awards for the second year in a row. The show takes place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
2026 Oscars Full Schedule
Here is the complete schedule for Oscar Sunday, March 15, 2026.
| Time (ET) | Time (PT) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 4:00 PM | 1:00 PM | E! Live From the Red Carpet begins |
| 6:00 PM | 3:00 PM | ABC exclusive red carpet window opens |
| 6:30 PM | 3:30 PM | ABC Official Red Carpet Show begins |
| 7:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 98th Academy Awards ceremony begins |
| 7:00–8:00 PM | 4:00–5:00 PM | Opening monologue and first awards |
| 8:00–9:30 PM | 5:00–6:30 PM | Mid-show awards and live performances |
| 9:30–11:00 PM | 6:30–8:00 PM | Final awards and Best Picture announced |
| ~10:30–11:00 PM | ~7:30–8:00 PM | Show ends, Governors Ball begins |
4:00 PM ET: E! Red Carpet Coverage
E! starts two full hours of red carpet arrivals with “Live From the Red Carpet.” This is the best option for fashion coverage before the main show. E! is available on cable, DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV.
Note: FuboTV subscribers cannot watch E! FuboTV dropped NBCUniversal channels including E! in November 2025.
6:00 PM ET: ABC Exclusive Window
ABC holds exclusive rights to red carpet arrivals from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM ET. No other network can air live red carpet footage during this one-hour window.
6:30 PM ET: ABC Red Carpet Show
ABC airs its official 30-minute red carpet pre-show starting at 6:30 PM ET. This is free to watch on ABC or stream on Hulu. The show features nominee arrivals, fashion coverage and quick interviews with stars heading inside.
7:00 PM ET: Main Ceremony Begins
The 98th Academy Awards start at 7:00 PM ET on ABC and Hulu. Conan O’Brien takes the stage for his opening monologue. All 24 competitive categories get awarded throughout the night. Two Best Original Song nominees perform live. “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters and “I Lied to You” from Sinners are the two confirmed performances.
10:30–11:00 PM ET: Show Ends
The ceremony wraps between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM ET. Best Picture is the final award of the night. The Governors Ball starts right after for nominees and presenters inside the venue.
2026 Oscars Start Time by US Time Zone
The 2026 Oscars air live at the same moment across the country. Here is the start time in every US time zone.
| Time Zone | Red Carpet (E!) | Main Show |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | 4:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| Central (CT) | 3:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Mountain (MT) | 2:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| Pacific (PT) | 1:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| Alaska (AKT) | 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| Hawaii (HST) | 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM |
ABC carries the live broadcast on all local affiliate stations at the same time nationwide.
2026 Oscars International Start Times
The 98th Academy Awards broadcast live in more than 200 countries. Here is when the main ceremony starts in the countries and cities where the Oscars draw the biggest audiences.
| Country / City | Time Zone | Local Start Time | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada / Toronto | ET | 7:00 PM | Sunday, March 15 |
| Canada / Vancouver | PT | 4:00 PM | Sunday, March 15 |
| Mexico / Mexico City | CST | 6:00 PM | Sunday, March 15 |
| Brazil / São Paulo | BRT | 9:00 PM | Sunday, March 15 |
| Argentina / Buenos Aires | ART | 9:00 PM | Sunday, March 15 |
| United Kingdom / London | GMT | 12:00 AM Midnight | Monday, March 16 |
| Ireland / Dublin | GMT | 12:00 AM Midnight | Monday, March 16 |
| France / Paris | CET | 1:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Germany / Berlin | CET | 1:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Italy / Rome | CET | 1:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Spain / Madrid | CET | 1:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Netherlands / Amsterdam | CET | 1:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Sweden / Stockholm | CET | 1:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Poland / Warsaw | CET | 1:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Nigeria / Lagos | WAT | 1:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Greece / Athens | EET | 2:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| South Africa / Johannesburg | SAST | 2:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Turkey / Istanbul | TRT | 3:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Saudi Arabia / Riyadh | AST | 3:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| UAE / Dubai | GST | 4:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Pakistan / Karachi | PKT | 5:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| India / Mumbai | IST | 5:30 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Nepal / Kathmandu | NPT | 5:45 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Sri Lanka / Colombo | SLST | 5:30 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Bangladesh / Dhaka | BST | 6:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| China / Beijing | CST | 8:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Hong Kong | HKT | 8:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Singapore | SGT | 8:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Malaysia / Kuala Lumpur | MYT | 8:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Philippines / Manila | PHT | 8:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| South Korea / Seoul | KST | 9:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Japan / Tokyo | JST | 9:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Australia / Sydney | AEDT | 11:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| Australia / Melbourne | AEDT | 11:00 AM | Monday, March 16 |
| New Zealand / Auckland | NZDT | 1:00 PM | Monday, March 16 |
Brazil and Mexico are the only major international markets that catch the show on Sunday evening local time. Most other international viewers outside North America watch the ceremony on Monday morning.
How Long is the 2026 Oscars?
The show runs three to three and a half hours. The 2025 ceremony ended at 10:50 PM ET. This year covers 24 categories including the brand new Best Casting award. Two live song performances also add time to the broadcast. Plan for the show to wrap somewhere between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM ET.
Where to Watch the 2026 Oscars
ABC is the official broadcast home of the 98th Academy Awards. A free digital antenna picks up ABC with no subscription needed. Every local ABC affiliate carries the show live at the same start time.
Hulu streams the ceremony live for all subscribers. No special plan required. The full show is also available on demand from Monday, March 16.
YouTube TV carries ABC live. New subscribers get a 21-day free trial. Sign up before March 15 and watch the show at no cost.
Hulu + Live TV includes both ABC and E! so you get full coverage from red carpet to final award.
DirecTV Stream also carries ABC and E! for complete Oscar night coverage from start to finish.
ABC App streams the show free with a TV provider login. The app works on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and most smart TVs.
FuboTV does not carry E! or other NBCUniversal channels. FuboTV dropped those networks in November 2025. FuboTV subscribers can still watch the main ceremony on ABC but cannot access E! red carpet coverage.
A free digital antenna is the simplest option. Buy one for $20 to $50 at any electronics store and pick up ABC in clear HD with no monthly cost.
2026 Oscars Schedule: Frequently Asked Questions
What time do the 2026 Oscars start?
The 2026 Oscars start at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
What time is the Oscars red carpet in 2026?
E! red carpet coverage starts at 4:00 PM ET. ABC’s official red carpet show begins at 6:30 PM ET.
What channel are the 2026 Oscars on?
The 2026 Oscars air live on ABC. All Hulu subscribers can also stream the show live at no extra cost.
What time do the 2026 Oscars end?
The show is expected to wrap between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM ET. Best Picture is the last award of the night.
Who is hosting the 2026 Oscars?
Conan O’Brien hosts the 98th Academy Awards. This is his second consecutive year as host.
Where are the 2026 Oscars held?
The ceremony takes place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Can I watch the 2026 Oscars for free?
Yes. A digital antenna picks up ABC free over the air. YouTube TV also offers a 21-day free trial for new subscribers.
The 2026 Oscars start at 7:00 PM ET tonight on ABC and Hulu. Tune in early at 4:00 PM ET on E! for red carpet arrivals.
The Best Picture race between Sinners and One Battle After Another makes this one of the most competitive Oscar nights in years.
Check our Oscars 2026 winners page for live results as they get announced tonight.