The 98th Academy Awards, Oscars 2026, will celebrate the best films of 2025 with a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles. Indian audiences will be especially keen as Priyanka Chopra joins as a presenter alongside Robert Downey Jr.

and Anne Hathaway.

Ceremony date and timing

The Oscars 2026 will take place on Sunday, 15 March, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). In India, the live broadcast will be available at 4:30 a.m. IST on 16 March. The event will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, continuing its long-standing tradition.

Live streaming and telecast

In the United States, viewers can watch the Oscars live on ABC and via the streaming platform Hulu. In India, the ceremony will be available on Star Movies and JioHotstar, with on-demand viewing possible after the live broadcast. Fans worldwide can follow the awards, performances, and live announcements as they happen.

Indian presenter highlights

Actress Priyanka Chopra will be one of the presenters this year, joining Hollywood stars Robert Downey Jr. and Anne Hathaway. Her presence adds special interest for Indian audiences eager to watch the ceremony live.

Nominations and top contenders

This year, Ryan Coogler's Sinners leads with a record-breaking 16 nominations, surpassing the previous record of 14. Other major contenders for Best Picture include Hamnet, Sentimental Value, One Battle After Another, and Frankenstein.

• Best Director: Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another), Chloe Zhao (Hamnet), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme).
• Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
• Best Actress: Emma Stone, Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I'd Kick You), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue).