Stars Gather for Chanel and Charles Finch's Pre-Oscar Dinner

The iconic Polo Lounge hosts the 17th annual event celebrating cinema and storytelling.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:56pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Beverly Hills Hotel's Polo Lounge was packed with stars on the Saturday night before the Oscars for the 17th annual pre-Oscar dinner co-hosted by Chanel and film producer Charles Finch. The intimate gathering brought together Oscar nominees, winners, filmmakers, and celebrities to mingle and celebrate the art of storytelling in cinema.

Why it matters

Chanel has a long history of supporting film, from dressing Hollywood stars in the 1930s to collaborating with French New Wave directors and independent filmmakers today. The pre-Oscar dinner organized by Finch has become one of the hottest tickets in town, bringing together the global film community to connect and celebrate ahead of the big awards show.

The details

The patio was filled with a who's who of the film industry, including Teyana Taylor, Mick Jagger, Kristen Stewart, and Wagner Moura. Jessie Buckley, the favorite to win Best Actress, noted the intimate feel of the event compared to the larger Oscars ceremony. Maggie Kang, the co-director of the animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters,' was excited to be part of the mix and looking forward to the film's expected wins and performance on Sunday. The event featured deep conversations and mingling between stars, filmmakers, and industry figures like Jeff Bezos, Sigourney Weaver, and Nick Cave.

  • The 17th annual pre-Oscar dinner took place on the Saturday night before the 2026 Academy Awards ceremony.

The players

Chanel

A French fashion house that has had a long history of supporting and collaborating with the film industry, from dressing Hollywood stars in the 1930s to working with French New Wave directors and independent filmmakers today.

Charles Finch

A film producer who started throwing pre-Oscar parties around 30 years ago, mostly for international filmmakers who didn't have anywhere to go. His partnership with Chanel has helped make the event one of the hottest tickets in town.

Jessie Buckley

An actress who is the favorite to win the Best Actress Oscar on Sunday.

Maggie Kang

The co-director of the animated musical film 'KPop Demon Hunters,' which is expected to win Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the Oscars.

Jeff Bezos

The billionaire founder of Amazon.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's like a prelude to tomorrow, right?”

— Jessie Buckley

“It's epic. It's a lot of drama. I had tears just watching the rehearsal. It was really amazing. It's going to be a big cultural moment.”

— Maggie Kang, Co-director, 'KPop Demon Hunters'

“Functioning in like, you know, this sort of industry, business, Hollywood slash fashion world as a kiddo is a bizarro, and with them it's always felt incredibly authentic and sort of from a storyteller's perspective, and so it doesn't surprise me that they want to support storytellers.”

— Kristen Stewart

“Being on a film set reminds you that cinema is a universal language. On the film I'm working on now, the crew includes British, American, French, and Portuguese artisans — all united by one goal: to bring a story to life. That spirit is what tonight is about — and how this dinner originated: celebrating cinema, storytelling, and the storytellers who make the magic happen.”

— Charles Finch, Film Producer

What’s next

The 2026 Academy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, where 'KPop Demon Hunters' is expected to win several major awards.

The takeaway

Chanel's long-standing support for the film industry, combined with Charles Finch's pre-Oscar dinner tradition, has created an intimate and authentic celebration of cinema and storytelling that brings together the global film community ahead of Hollywood's biggest night.