The 98th Academy Awards are finally right around the corner, and the frustrating discourse that's been stirring with the late timeline might finally end after we learn who the winners are. Also, looking at the number 98, it's wild to think that we're one less away from the 100th year. There are multiple extraordinary nominees this year that are rightfully making headlines, some snubs people still can't stop talking about, and a ton of firsts to look forward to.
If you don't know how or where to prepare for the Oscars, we've got you covered.
When Are The 2026 Oscars? (And How To Watch It)
This year, the Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at an earlier time than usual. Instead of the standard 5 p.m. PST, 8 p.m. EST, this year the awards will begin at 4 p.m. PST/7 p.m. EST/11:00 p.m. GMT/ 7:00 a.m. CST. The ET pre-show with red carpet interviews will begin thirty minutes before the show.
The 98th Academy Awards will be broadcast on ABC and available on Hulu the next day. However, for viewers wanting to watch live, the awards will be available through YouTube Live, Hulu Live, AT&T TV, and FuboTV. If you don’t have a subscription to any of them, most of them thankfully offer free trials.
The Best Picture Movies Everyone Is Talking About
The Best Picture nominees this year are causing an uproar—some rightfully so with recording-breaking numbers, while others are due to the fact that they're outright shocking or people are thinking of snubs in their place. Ryan Coogler's Sinners (2025) is among the most excellent films, with 16 nominations, while a film like F1 (2025) is surprising some viewers. Chloé Zhao's Hamnet (2025) is the most devastating movie nominated for Best Picture, and the ending is still a debate among viewers online, while Frankenstein (2025) is also a huge hit that people can't get enough of.
At the same time, Marty Supreme (2025) is currently in the conversation because Timothee Chalamet is making headlines with his controversial opinions on ballet and opera. Conversations around One Battle After Another (2025) are also making headlines, and underrated gems like The Secret Agent (2025) and Sentimental Value (2025) are not getting nearly enough attention as they deserve. Interestingly, the discussions around Bugonia (2025) are surprisingly quieter, too.
2026 Oscar Predictions We Hope Come True
From the beginning of award season and since the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), people have been hoping for Jessie Buckley's win as Best Actress for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet. At the same time, the Actor Awards, formerly known as SAG Awards, surprised us all with Michael B. Jordan winning for Best Actor, and since then, I've been hoping that'll be the same outcome at the 2026 Oscars. Jordan deserves it without question, not only for playing two different characters, but for doing so perfectly.
Predictions can be incredibly tricky because there's generally no rhyme or reason to outright believe who can win because surprises are always more than possible at the Oscars. Still, some patterns are easier to assess. For instance, generally, the director who wins the Director's Guild Award has a higher chance of taking home the Oscar. If this is true, Paul Thomas Anderson could take home his first win as a director. If we look at the Writers Guild Awards, Ryan Coogler could certainly—and deservedly—take home the award for Best Original Screenplay.
The biggest shock of the year, no matter which way it occurs, will undoubtedly be the Best Picture nominees. Because of how the actors, directors, and writers shift the scenario, no matter what happens, it's either going to be an exceptional shock or a lackluster one. But if by some miracle Sinners takes home the award, it can be monumental for various reasons as a film that's not only exquisite in its quality but a rarity for the horror/thriller genre at major awards ceremonies. Frankenstein could also have a similar effect, and films like The Secret Agent and Sentimental Value could also be exceptional wins as movies in another language.
