98th Academy Awards to Air Sunday with Surprises

Conan O'Brien to host the Oscars ceremony, which will feature a Bridesmaids reunion and other special moments.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:00pm

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The 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu this Sunday, March 15. Comedian Conan O'Brien will host the ceremony for the second time. The show's executive producer, Raj Kapoor, said the theme this year is "humanity" and that the stage design will be "very immersive." Kapoor also confirmed a rumored Bridesmaids reunion will take place, and executive producer Katy Mullan teased a Marvel superhero reunion and the appearance of an "extraterrestrial" on stage.

Why it matters

The Oscars are one of the most watched and anticipated awards shows of the year, celebrating the best in film. This year's ceremony promises to deliver some unique and exciting moments that will draw viewers and generate buzz around the awards.

The details

The 98th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. In addition to the Bridesmaids reunion and other special guests, the show will feature the traditional awards presentations honoring the top films, actors, directors, and more from the past year.

  • The 98th Academy Awards will air live on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • The ceremony will be hosted by Conan O'Brien for the second time.

The players

Raj Kapoor

The executive producer and showrunner of the 98th Academy Awards ceremony.

Katy Mullan

An executive producer of the 98th Academy Awards ceremony.

Conan O'Brien

The comedian who will host the 98th Academy Awards ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“Everything that you see in the show is inspired by human touch and creativity. We've completely redesigned what the stage looks like. It's very immersive. We hope all our nominees are celebrated in a very big way. We have beautiful photos and clips and nomination packages that a lot of time and thought and care has been put into.”

— Raj Kapoor, Executive Producer and Showrunner

“There's also going to be a Marvel reunion for the superhero fans. So we're gonna have superstars, superheroes and there is also gonna be an extraterrestrial on the stage, so you can figure that one out.”

— Katy Mullan, Executive Producer

What’s next

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu this Sunday, March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

This year's Oscars ceremony promises to deliver a unique and memorable experience for viewers, with a focus on celebrating the humanity and creativity behind the nominated films and performances, as well as some exciting surprise reunions and special guests.