The 98th Academy Awards: A Record-Breaking Night for ‘Sinners’

The 98th Academy Awards are just days away, set to take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This year’s ceremony promises to be historic, largely due to Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which has shattered the all-time record for Academy Award nominations with a staggering 16 nods. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another follows closely with 13 nominations.

When and Where to Watch

The Oscars will air live on ABC and stream simultaneously on Hulu, beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern Time / 4:00 PM Pacific Time / 11:00 PM GMT. ABC’s pre-show coverage, including red carpet interviews, will begin at 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT, with E!’s coverage kicking off at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT. The broadcast is expected to last three hours, though past ceremonies have often run longer.

Conan O’Brien Returns as Host

Conan O’Brien will host the Academy Awards for the second consecutive year. He was announced as the host shortly after the 2025 ceremony, stating his return was motivated by a desire to witness Adrien Brody conclude his acceptance speech. O’Brien has promised an even more elaborate show this year, building on his experience from the previous event.

A New Category: Achievement in Casting

The 2026 Oscars will introduce a new competitive category: Achievement in Casting. This marks the first new category added since Best Animated Feature Film in 2001. The nominees for the inaugural award are Nina Gold (Hamnet), Jennifer Venditti (Marty Supreme), Cassandra Kulukundis (One Battle after Another), Gabriel Domingues (The Secret Agent) and Francine Maisler (Sinners). Unlike other awards, the casting directors will be presented via a “Fab Five”-style panel, featuring individuals with personal connections to the nominees, highlighting the importance of their contributions to filmmaking.

Presenters and Performers

The presenter lineup includes Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Paul Mescal, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Evans, Kumail Nanjiani, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Javier Bardem, Chase Infiniti, Nicole Kidman, Jimmy Kimmel, Delroy Lindo, Ewan McGregor, Wagner Moura, Pedro Pascal, Bill Pullman, Lewis Pullman, Channing Tatum, and Sigourney Weaver.

The telecast will feature performances by KPop Demon Hunters (“Golden”) and Miles Caton with Raphael Saadiq (“I Lied to You”), both nominated for Best Original Song. These performances are described as “more than just performances,” expanding into cinematic tributes that celebrate the relationship between music and storytelling. Additional performers include Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey, Misty Copeland, Li Jun Li, Jayme Lawson, Brittany Howard, Eric Gales, Alice Smith, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, along with the Josh Groban and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

In Memoriam and Security

The In Memoriam segment will be extended this year to honor the many significant figures lost in the film industry.

Security will be heightened at the ceremony following an FBI warning regarding a potential retaliatory drone strike from Iran against unspecified targets in California.

Key Nominees

Here are some of the nominees in the top categories:

• Best Picture: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle after Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, Train Dreams
• Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle after Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)
• Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You), Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), Emma Stone (Bugonia)
• Best Director: Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle after Another), Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value), Ryan Coogler (Sinners)