Oscars 2026 Broadcast and Streaming Details
The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will air live on ABC in the United States on Sunday, March 15, 2026, with a runtime of approximately three and a half hours. The broadcast starts at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. ABC is the exclusive U.S. television home for the Oscars through a multiyear deal with the Academy, and the ceremony is also simulcast on ESPN Deportes and streamed live on Hulu with a live TV add-on for subscribers. The Oscars 2026 streaming free option on Hulu requires a live TV plan because the event is a linear broadcast, not a standalone on-demand title, and availability may vary by region and provider. For the latest ceremony date and format, see the official Oscars website. How to Watch the Oscars 2024 on ABC and Hulu
Free and Low-Cost Ways to Stream the Oscars 2026
To watch the Oscars 2026 streaming free or at low cost, users can start a free trial of Hulu + Live TV, which includes ABC and typically costs around $76.99 per month after the trial ends. Other live TV services that carry ABC include YouTube TV at around $72.99 per month, DirecTV Stream starting at $89.99 per month, and Fubo starting at $79.99 per month, all of which provide a cloud DVR and multi-device streaming. Some providers offer promotional free trial periods of seven days or more, allowing viewers to watch the ceremony without paying if they cancel before the trial ends. The Oscars 2026 streaming free on Hulu is also accessible via the Hulu app on smart TVs, streaming sticks, mobile devices, and web browsers when signed in with a live TV subscription. For details on Hulu plans and supported devices, visit Hulu's official help page. Hulu Live TV Plans and Devices
Oscars 2026 Nominations, Hosts, and Key Facts
2026 Oscars Nominations and Ceremony Format
The 2026 Oscars nominations will be announced in early 2026 by the Academy, with the final voting deadline typically set for early March. The ceremony is expected to feature a single host or a small hosting team, as the Academy has moved away from multiple hosts in recent years, and the event will include performances of nominated songs and presentations of major awards such as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor. The Oscars 2026 streaming free on ABC and Hulu gives viewers access to the same broadcast as traditional cable, with no extra fee beyond the live TV subscription. For the full list of nominated films and categories, see the official Oscars nominations page. 98th Academy Awards Official Page
Viewership and Ratings Trends
The 2025 Oscars drew approximately 19.7 million viewers on ABC, according to early Nielsen estimates, marking a rebound from the prior year and the highest viewership since the 2014 ceremony. The Oscars 2026 streaming free on Hulu may contribute to a slight increase in total unique viewers when combining linear and streaming audiences, as live TV integration has become a standard part of the Oscars broadcast strategy. The Academy continues to work with ABC and Disney, the parent company of ABC and Hulu