How to Watch Oscars Red Carpet 2026

See how the stars look before the ceremony gets underway.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:22am

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The 98th Academy Awards are inching closer, and the stars will hit the red carpet on Sunday night. This year's awards ceremony will once again be hosted by Conan O'Brien, while the nominees feature some of Hollywood's heaviest hitters, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Sean Penn, Michael B. Jordan, Emma Stone, Kate Hudson and Elle Fanning. 'Sinners' is up for 16 nominations, including best picture, making it the most nominated movie in Oscars history.

Why it matters

The Oscars red carpet is a highly anticipated event where celebrities showcase their fashion and style. It generates significant media attention and social media buzz as fans eagerly await to see what the stars will wear.

The details

ABC will broadcast a live, 90-minute red-carpet special, 'On The Red Carpet at the Oscars: Countdown to Oscars,' beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET. 'On the Red Carpet at the Oscars' then takes place at 5 p.m. ET before 'The Oscars Red Carpet Show' takes over at 6:30 p.m. ET, leading into the ceremony. E! will also offer its own red carpet special, beginning at 4 p.m. ET. The official 2026 Oscars ceremony will take place live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

  • The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday night.
  • The red carpet coverage will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
  • The Oscars ceremony will start at 7 p.m. ET.

The players

Conan O'Brien

The host of the 98th Academy Awards ceremony.

Leonardo DiCaprio

One of the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards.

Timothée Chalamet

One of the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards.

Sean Penn

One of the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards.

Michael B. Jordan

One of the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards.

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The takeaway

The Oscars red carpet is a highly anticipated event that generates significant media attention and social media buzz as fans eagerly await to see what the stars will wear. The coverage will be available across various platforms, including ABC and E!, allowing viewers to tune in and catch all the fashion and celebrity moments leading up to the main ceremony.