How to Watch the 98th Academy Awards: Time, Streaming Options, and What to Expect

Hollywood’s biggest night is back this Sunday, with the 98th Academy Awards airing on ABC and streaming on Hulu starting at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific. If you’re wondering how to watch, where to stream, or what exactly Conan O’Brien is going to do with his second year in a row as host, this guide breaks down everything you need to know—without making you dig through a maze of fine print and confusing time zones.

Oscar statuettes lined up on display before the Academy Awards ceremony
Gleaming Oscar statuettes await their new homes ahead of the 98th Academy Awards.

When and Where to Watch the 98th Academy Awards

The Oscars telecast will kick off at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific on ABC. Unlike earlier years when the show sometimes drifted into late-night territory, the Academy and ABC have been trying to keep the runtime tighter and the start time more friendly for work-night viewers.

  • U.S. broadcast: Watch free over the air on your local ABC station with an antenna.
  • Traditional cable/satellite: Tune to your ABC affiliate at the announced start time.
  • Live TV streaming: Services that carry ABC in your market—such as Hulu + Live TV—will stream the ceremony live.

The red carpet coverage typically starts before the official ceremony, so if you’re here for fashion, entrances, and the occasional viral soundbite, you’ll want to tune in roughly an hour early.

Person browsing streaming services on a TV at home
Whether you’re watching on cable or streaming, ABC remains the home of the Oscars broadcast.

For official details, schedules, and any last‑minute changes, check the Academy’s site and ABC’s listings:


How to Stream the Oscars on Hulu and Other Platforms

For cord-cutters, the big headline is that the Oscars will be available to stream on Hulu, typically through Hulu + Live TV in markets where ABC is carried. This mirrors the recent trend of major live events being shared across broadcast and streaming to capture both traditional TV viewers and younger audiences who live on apps.

  1. Hulu + Live TV: Log in, head to the “Live TV” tab, and search for ABC at the ceremony start time.
  2. On-demand next day: In recent years, the Oscars broadcast (or key highlights) have often been made available on-demand; check Hulu’s Oscars hub after the telecast.
  3. Other live TV services: Platforms like YouTube TV or Fubo that carry ABC in your region may also have the show live—always confirm ABC is included in your local channel lineup.

Internationally, rights vary by region. In the U.K., for instance, the Oscars have historically landed on Sky or a streaming equivalent, while many European and Asian territories rely on regional broadcasters or pay-TV channels. If you’re outside the U.S., check your local listings or your national broadcaster’s social feeds.

Couple watching an awards show on a living room TV
Streaming has turned the Oscars into more of a global watch party than a U.S.-only TV ritual.

Conan O’Brien Returns as Host: What That Means for the Show’s Tone

This year marks Conan O’Brien’s second consecutive turn as Oscars host, a clear signal that the Academy is leaning into his particular blend of self-aware, slightly absurd comedy. In an era where awards shows fight for attention against TikTok and prestige TV, you need more than a monologue and a few song-and-dance numbers.

“If you’re inviting me back, you’re also inviting back the weird,” O’Brien joked in a recent interview, hinting at more left‑field bits and meta-Hollywood humor.

O’Brien’s hosting style sits somewhere between classic late‑night roast and affectionate industry insider. He’s sharp enough to skewer Hollywood ego, but typically does it with a wink rather than a sledgehammer—closer to the playful ribbing of Billy Crystal than the scorched-earth approach of Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes.

Host standing on a brightly lit award show stage
With Conan O’Brien back at the mic, expect a mix of sharp monologue jokes and self‑deprecating Hollywood humor.

The risk, as always, is pacing: comedy bits that play well on YouTube the next morning can sap the live broadcast’s momentum. The challenge for this year’s producers is balancing O’Brien’s comedic instincts with a snappier show that doesn’t feel like it’s dragging by hour three.


Why the Oscars Still Matter in a Streaming-Dominated Era

Every awards season, the same question surfaces: do the Oscars still matter? The short answer is that they matter differently now. Ratings aren’t what they were in the monoculture era, but the show still functions as a global spotlight for cinema, especially for smaller films that don’t have superhero budgets or franchise marketing.

In a landscape where major studios, streamers, and filmmakers jostle for attention, an Oscar nomination—or even a viral Oscars moment—can extend a movie’s life on streaming platforms and international markets. The ceremony also acts as a kind of time capsule of what the industry wants to say about itself in a given year: diversity, labor issues, box office health, and the uneasy balance between theatrical releases and streaming premieres.

As one critic put it, the Oscars are “less a definitive judgment on art than a snapshot of Hollywood’s anxieties and ambitions at a particular moment.”
The Oscars may be less about consensus and more about conversation in today’s fractured viewing landscape.

Practical Viewing Tips: From Red Carpet to Final Award

If you’re planning an Oscars watch party—or just settling in solo with snacks—there are a few ways to make the most of the night without getting overwhelmed by the runtime or missing key moments.

  • Start with the red carpet: It’s where the fashion, memes, and early interviews happen. Tune in at least an hour early if that’s your thing.
  • Use a “highlight” checklist: Make a short list of categories and presenters you most care about so you know when to really pay attention.
  • Second-screen carefully: Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram Stories will explode with live reactions. Fun, but easy to let spoilers and hot takes overshadow the show itself.
  • Watch parties via streaming: Some platforms and devices support co-watching; just double-check everyone has access to ABC or Hulu + Live TV in their region.
Friends gathered around a TV with snacks watching an event together
From casual couch viewing to themed watch parties, Oscars night has quietly become a modern movie‑lover tradition.

If you’re only interested in the major wins or speeches, you can always catch the official highlights on the Academy’s YouTube channel or ABC’s digital platforms the next morning—an increasingly common way younger viewers experience awards shows.


Final Take: A Night for Movies, Even If You Only Stream Them

The Oscars will keep evolving—experimenting with hosts, tightening the runtime, and trying to stay culturally relevant in a streaming-saturated world. But at its core, the ceremony is still a rare, live, communal moment built around movies, whether you caught them on IMAX screens or on your couch via a streaming app.

If you want the full experience this Sunday, all you really need to remember is: ABC at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific, streaming on Hulu where available. Everything else—the speeches, the surprises, the inevitable viral jokes—will take care of itself. And if this year’s show manages to balance Conan’s comedy with a sharper, more cinematic rhythm, the Oscars might just feel essential again, if only for one night.


About This Guide

The information above summarizes publicly reported broadcast and streaming details for the 98th Academy Awards as of mid-March 2026. Always verify local listings and regional streaming availability, as carriage agreements and schedules can change on short notice.