Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

98th Oscars: Conan O'Brien Hosts, Sinners Leads with 16 Nominations

3/15/2026

43 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

O'Brien Hosts Oscars

The 98th Academy Awards will be held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Conan O'Brien, television host, will host the ceremony for the second consecutive year.
Viewers can watch live on ABC or stream via Hulu, YouTube TV, and FuboTV.
Barbra Streisand will perform in the In Memoriam segment.
The film Sinners has a record-breaking 16 nominations.

Summary

O'Brien Hosts 2026 Oscars

The 2026 Oscars air on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET from Dolby Theatre.
Conan O'Brien returns as host, promising a show with reunions and a humanity theme.
Sinners leads with 16 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Ryan Coogler, while One Battle After Another has 13 nominations.
Buckley is favored for Best Actress, and Jordan is positioned for Best Actor; Streisand is expected to honor Robert Redford.

History

Historical Context

The 95th Academy Awards, held on March 12, 2023, marked a significant shift in Hollywood's approach to diversity, with 44% of nominees from underrepresented groups. This change follows the 2018 #OscarsSoWhite controversy, prompting the Academy to implement new inclusion standards starting with the 96th awards. The evolving landscape reflects broader societal changes and sets a precedent for future industry practices.

1 of 3

O'Brien Hosts Oscars

The 98th Academy Awards will be held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Conan O'Brien, television host, will host the ceremony for the second consecutive year.
Viewers can watch live on ABC or stream via Hulu, YouTube TV, and FuboTV.
Barbra Streisand will perform in the In Memoriam segment.
The film Sinners has a record-breaking 16 nominations.

1 / 3