When Are The Oscars On? And Where To Watch The 2026 Awards Show Live

From the birth of Adele Dazeem to the slap felt around the world, it’s fair to say the Oscars has given us its fair share of iconic moments over the years that extend far beyond just who won what.

And with Sinners already making history,A-listers vocally questioning why they were snubbed and Timothée Chalamet boastfully continuing his campaign to snag an Academy Award(and offending generations of culture in the process), this year’s event looks set to deliver more than a few water cooler moments.

Excitingly, the Oscars is one of the few US-based awards shows that we can tune into live on this side of the pond, meaning those who want to can follow all of the action as it happens.

Here’s where you can watch the 2026 Oscars – and what to look out for on the night…

How can I watch the 2026 Oscars red carpet live in the UK?

For the third year running, Chicken Shop Date star Amelia Dimoldenberg is heading up all the red carpet action as the Academy Awards’ official correspondent and social media ambassador. 

She’ll be chatting to the stars as they arrive and asking them important questions like whether Bob Dylan could ride a sandworm. 

You can catch Amelia’s red carpet coverage over on the Oscars’ official YouTube channel – and, of course, we’ll also be collating all of the highlights over here at HuffPost UK.

Alternatively, there’s also the option to watch Ross King and Angelique Jackson presenting live coverage of the red carpet as it happens on TV. 

What about the main event – can I watch the 2026 Oscars ceremony live in the UK, too?

You sure can.

Jonathan Ross will be at the helm over on ITV1 and ITVX, where you can watch the awards live for free.

ITV will be broadcasting the Oscars as it happens, with coverage promising “live commentary, interviews with celebrity guests and film experts, and on-the-spot conversations with the stars as they walk the red carpet” kicking off at 10.15pm on Sunday night.

Over the course of the night, Jonathan will be joined by a panel including presenter Elle Osili Wood, actor and writer Samson Kayo and TikToker Fred Asquith, to debrief on the biggest night in Hollywood.

For night owls and/or the most devoted movie fans, the actual ceremony will kick off at midnight in the UK and will run until about 3am – so make sure you get the coffee in. 

Alternatively, if you’d rather catch a few winks rather than following live, the ceremony – along with curated highlights – will be available to watch the next day on ITVX.

And what about after the Oscars? Will there be live coverage of any after-parties?

While we’re sure the real after-parties take place well away from the cameras, you can check out Vanity Fair’s official 32nd annual Oscars after-party at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Celebrities will be seen arriving for the party on the red carpet on Vanity Fair’s website and YouTube channel straight after the ceremony, from around 2.30am on Monday.

Internet personalities and social media influencers Quenlin Blackwell, Brittany Broski and Jake Shane will all be presenting live from the red carpet as the stars arrive to celebrate – or commiserate – their Oscars experience.

Which nominees and stars should we be looking out for at the 2026 Oscars?

Based on nominations alone, it should be a huge night for Ryan Coogler’s vampire horror Sinners, which has made history as the Oscars’ most-nominated film ever.

Sinners did well at the recent Actor Awards, picking up Outstanding Performance By A Cast, while Michael B Jordan came away with Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor.

Could he pip the hotly-tipped Timothée Chalamet to the post to win the Best Actor Oscar as well?

Elsewhere, Jessie Buckley seems like a sure bet to take home the Best Actress gong after cleaning up in the category at the Actor Awards, Baftas, Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes for her performance in Hamnet.

As for the coveted Best Picture, it looks like it will be Sinners vs. One Battle After Another after Hamnet lost momentum during awards season. Then again, who doesn’t love a total surprise? 

Holding it all together will be comedian and TV host Conan O’Brien, who is presenting the Oscars for the second year running.