Planning your Oscar night? You’re in the right place. The 98th Academy Awards are coming up and we’ve got all the timing details you need. No need to search around multiple sites or guess about time zones.
This guide tells you exactly when the ceremony starts, what time the red carpet kicks off and when you can expect the show to wrap up. We’ve included times for every US time zone plus international viewers in dozens of countries.
How Many Days Until the Academy Awards 2026?
Use the live countdown timer below to see exactly how much time remains until the show in your local timezone!
When & Where Are the Oscars 2026? (Date, Time, Venue)
Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 15, 2026. The show happens at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
The ceremony starts at 7:00 PM Eastern and 4:00 PM Pacific. ABC airs the broadcast live nationwide. You can also stream it on Hulu and Disney+ at the same time.
The Dolby Theatre became the Oscars home back in 2002. About 3,400 people fill the seats on Oscar night. The venue sits right in the middle of Hollywood at Ovation Hollywood. You know those shots of the grand staircase and elegant lobby? That's the Dolby Theatre.
Conan O'Brien comes back to host again this year. He did great last year in his first time hosting the Oscars. People really enjoyed his style. Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan are producing the show for their third year in a row.
What Time to Watch by Time Zone (US & International)
Your start time depends on where you live. Here's when to tune in across America:
United States:
- Eastern Time (ET): 7:00 PM
- Central Time (CT): 6:00 PM
- Mountain Time (MT): 5:00 PM
- Pacific Time (PT): 4:00 PM
- Alaska Time (AKT): 3:00 PM
- Hawaii Time (HST): 1:00 PM
International (Monday, March 16, 2026):
| Country/City | Time Zone | Start Time |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (London) | GMT | 12:00 AM (Midnight) |
| Ireland (Dublin) | GMT | 12:00 AM (Midnight) |
| France (Paris) | CET | 1:00 AM |
| Germany (Berlin) | CET | 1:00 AM |
| Italy (Rome) | CET | 1:00 AM |
| Spain (Madrid) | CET | 1:00 AM |
| Netherlands (Amsterdam) | CET | 1:00 AM |
| Sweden (Stockholm) | CET | 1:00 AM |
| Poland (Warsaw) | CET | 1:00 AM |
| South Africa (Johannesburg) | SAST | 2:00 AM |
| Israel (Tel Aviv) | IST | 2:00 AM |
| Greece (Athens) | EET | 2:00 AM |
| United Arab Emirates (Dubai) | GST | 3:00 AM |
| India (Mumbai) | IST | 5:30 AM |
| India (New Delhi) | IST | 5:30 AM |
| Thailand (Bangkok) | ICT | 6:00 AM |
| Singapore | SGT | 7:00 AM |
| Philippines (Manila) | PHT | 7:00 AM |
| China (Beijing) | CST | 7:00 AM |
| Hong Kong | HKT | 7:00 AM |
| Japan (Tokyo) | JST | 8:00 AM |
| South Korea (Seoul) | KST | 8:00 AM |
| Australia (Sydney) | AEDT | 11:00 AM |
| Australia (Melbourne) | AEDT | 11:00 AM |
| New Zealand (Auckland) | NZDT | 1:00 PM |
| Canada (Toronto) | ET | 7:00 PM (Sunday) |
| Canada (Vancouver) | PT | 4:00 PM (Sunday) |
| Mexico (Mexico City) | CST | 6:00 PM (Sunday) |
| Brazil (São Paulo) | BRT | 9:00 PM (Sunday) |
| Argentina (Buenos Aires) | ART | 9:00 PM (Sunday) |
Yeah, most folks outside North America end up watching Monday morning. The show goes out to over 200 countries. Your local TV listings will have the specific channel for your area.
What Time Does the Red Carpet Start?
The red carpet pre-show gets going before the main event. ABC starts their official coverage at 6:30 PM Eastern (3:30 PM Pacific).
That's your 30-minute window to see all the stunning gowns and sharp tuxedos. The hosts interview nominees and presenters as they make their way down the carpet. You get those quick soundbites with the stars before they head inside.
E! Network goes bigger on red carpet coverage. They start at 4:00 PM Eastern (1:00 PM Pacific). That gives you a full three hours of fashion and celebrity arrivals before the awards even begin.
The first celebrities usually show up around 5:00 PM Eastern. The real A-listers tend to arrive in that final hour though. That's when you see the showstopping outfits and the most buzz-worthy moments.
ABC gets exclusive rights to the last hour of red carpet footage. Other networks can't show live arrivals from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Eastern. ABC protects their pre-show that way.
How Long Are the Oscars? (Duration & End Time)
Plan on about three to three and a half hours for the whole show. Starting at 7:00 PM Eastern, you're looking at an end time somewhere between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM Eastern.
ABC tries to wrap everything up by 11:00 PM Eastern. They actually moved the start time up an hour a few years back. East Coast viewers appreciate being able to watch the whole thing without staying up until midnight or later.
Last year's show finished at 10:50 PM Eastern. That worked out to about 3 hours and 20 minutes total. Most ceremonies these days land in that three to three and a half hour sweet spot.
The record for longest Oscars? That goes to the 2002 ceremony at 4 hours and 23 minutes. The Academy really tries to avoid those marathon shows now.
This year brings 24 categories total. They're adding that new Achievement in Casting award. You also get musical performances, comedy bits from Conan and the always emotional In Memoriam segment. All that adds up time-wise.
Oscars 2026 Complete Timeline & Key Dates
Here's your full roadmap from submissions through ceremony night:
| Date | Event | Time (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| August 14, 2025 | First submission deadline (Shorts, Documentaries) | 5:00 PM PT |
| September 10, 2025 | General Entry, Best Picture, Animated Feature deadline | 5:00 PM PT |
| October 1, 2025 | International Feature Film deadline | 5:00 PM PT |
| October 6, 2025 | Student Academy Awards | Evening |
| October 15, 2025 | Music (Original Song) deadline | 5:00 PM PT |
| November 3, 2025 | Music (Original Score) deadline | 5:00 PM PT |
| November 13, 2025 | Final Best Picture submission deadline | 5:00 PM PT |
| November 16, 2025 | Governors Awards | Evening |
| December 8-12, 2025 | Preliminary voting period | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PT |
| December 16, 2025 | Oscars Shortlists Announcement (12 categories) | Morning |
| January 10-11, 2026 | Bake-offs (Casting, Makeup, Sound, VFX) | All Day |
| January 12-16, 2026 | Nominations voting period | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PT |
| January 22, 2026 | Nominations Announcement | 5:30 AM PT / 8:30 AM ET |
| February 10, 2026 | Oscars Nominees Luncheon | Afternoon |
| February 26 to March 5, 2026 | Final voting period | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PT |
| March 15, 2026 | 98th Academy Awards Ceremony | 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT |
| April 28, 2026 | Scientific and Technical Awards | Evening |
The nominations announcement on January 22 is huge. Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman reveal all the nominees live from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. You can catch it on Oscar.com, YouTube, Good Morning America, Hulu and Disney+.
Precursor Awards Schedule
A bunch of other award shows happen before the Oscars. People watch these to predict Oscar winners:
- Critics Choice Awards on January 4, 2026
- Golden Globes on January 11, 2026
- BAFTA Awards on February 22, 2026
- Actor Awards (SAG) on March 1, 2026
- Producers Guild Awards on February 28, 2026
- Writers Guild Awards on March 8, 2026
- Directors Guild Awards with nominations already out
- American Society of Cinematographers on March 8, 2026
- Visual Effects Society on February 25, 2026
Winning these shows builds serious momentum for the Oscars. The Actor Awards really matter for predicting who wins the acting categories. The Directors Guild Awards are super reliable for calling the Best Director winner.
Where to Watch the 2026 Oscar Awards?
You've got several ways to catch the show. ABC broadcasts the ceremony for free with an antenna or through your cable and satellite provider. That's your traditional TV option right there.
Streaming fans can watch live on Hulu. The show goes live at the same time as the TV broadcast. Disney+ carries the ceremony for international viewers outside the US.
Want more streaming options? Services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV all include ABC in their channel lineups. You can stream through any of those platforms.
The broadcast reaches more than 200 countries worldwide. Your local TV provider probably carries the Oscars on a major network in your region. Check your local listings for the exact channel.
Need help picking the best streaming option for your situation? We put together a complete guide that breaks down every way to watch including free methods, paid services and international solutions. Check out our full How to Watch Oscars 2026 guide here.
What's New for 2026 Oscars?
The Academy made some big changes this year. The most exciting addition is the new Achievement in Casting award. This is the first new category since 2001. Casting directors finally get recognition for their crucial work in finding the right actors for each role.
The Academy also introduced a mandatory viewing requirement. Members must now watch all nominated films in a category before voting in that category. The Academy tracks viewing through its screening room platform. You can't access the ballot unless you've completed your viewing. This ensures voters make informed decisions.
Ballots got an upgrade too. All designated nominees now appear by name on the final ballot. Previous years only listed film titles in many categories. Now you'll see the actual songwriters for Best Original Song and composers for Best Original Score. This helps voters recognize the specific artists behind each nomination.
The Academy added formal guidelines about artificial intelligence as well. The new language states that AI tools neither help nor harm a film's chances for nomination. Voters must evaluate the degree of human creative authorship when making their choices. This addresses growing questions about AI use in filmmaking.
These changes aim to make the voting process more transparent and fair. The new Casting category recognizes an overlooked art form. The viewing requirements and clearer ballots help ensure the right films and artists win.
FAQ About Academy Awards 2026
Who is hosting the Oscars 2026?
Conan O'Brien hosts the show again this year. He killed it last year in his first time hosting the Oscars. Before that he hosted the Emmy Awards back in 2002 and 2006.
How many people watch the Oscars?
About 19.69 million Americans tuned in last year. That was actually up 1% from the year before. Worldwide you're talking billions of viewers across more than 200 countries.
Can I attend the Oscars in person?
Nope, you need an invitation. The Academy invites nominees, presenters, performers, Academy members and select industry folks. Regular people can't buy tickets. Some studios get a certain number of tickets they can give to their employees.
What is the dress code for the Oscars?
Formal evening wear is the rule. Guys show up in tuxedos or really nice suits. Women wear elegant gowns. The red carpet is basically the Super Bowl of fashion. Some stars plan their looks with stylists for months.
How are Oscar winners chosen?
The voting happens in two rounds. First, Academy members pick the five nominees in each category (ten for Best Picture). Then everyone votes again to pick the actual winner from those nominees. The new rule this year is you have to watch all the nominated films in a category to vote in it.
What happens at the Governors Ball after the Oscars?
That's the big official after-party. Wolfgang Puck does the catering every year. Winners get their Oscar statuettes engraved with their names at the ball. Think fancy decorations, amazing food and lots of champagne. Only people who were at the ceremony get in.
Will there be musical performances at the 2026 Oscars?
Yeah, they always do live performances of the Best Original Song nominees. The Academy announces who's performing closer to the show date. Sometimes you get huge recording artists, sometimes the actors from the movies sing them.
How much does an Oscar statuette weigh?
Each one weighs 8.5 pounds and stands 13.5 inches tall. The design shows a knight holding a sword on top of a film reel. Winners pick up their personalized statuettes at the Governors Ball where they add your name.
The 98th Academy Awards bring Hollywood together on March 15, 2026. Put 7:00 PM Eastern Time in your calendar and turn on ABC for the whole show. The red carpet starts at 6:30 PM Eastern for anyone who wants the complete experience from arrivals through that final Best Picture announcement.