How to watch the Oscars 2026 in the UK

The time has come for Hollywood's biggest names to celebrate the best films of the year, with the Academy Awards just days away.

This year's Oscars race has been an impressive one to say the least, with Sinners receiving a record-breaking 16 nominations, followed closely behind by One Battle After Another.

As it stands, the best picture race and lead actor categories are still up to much debate, with Sinners, One Battle After Another and The Secret Agent considered frontrunners, while it seems Michael B Jordan and Jessie Buckley will walk home with the gold in their respective lead categories.

Alongside usual acceptance speeches and electric performances, it has been confirmed the Oscars will include a special tribute to Rob Reiner, who sadly died in December 2025. It is understood that this year's in memoriam segment will be longer than past ceremonies.

"I guess we can't really go into detail of what it's gonna be this year, but we really hope that it is a tribute that moves people and feels like it does the incredible people we've lost this year justice," producer Katy Mullan explained.

If you're looking forward to see what the dazzling night has in store, read on for everything you need to know about how to watch the Oscars 2026 in the UK. You can also remind yourself of the 2026 Oscars nominations ahead of the main event.

When are the Oscars 2026? Date and time

The Oscars are scheduled to take place on Sunday 3 March 2026, returning to its usual home at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony has been held at the Dolby since 2001, except in 2021 when the ceremony was at a smaller venue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ceremony will kick off 4pm PT and will last for three hours.

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How can I watch the Oscars 2026 in the UK?

For a third year, the Academy Awards will be shown in full on ITV, making it hugely accessible for movie fans in the UK.

The broadcaster will offer free-to-air programming on ITV1 and its streaming service ITVX, including red carpet coverage and analysis from a panel of film aficionados, including Elle Osili Wood, Samson Kayo and Fred Asquith.

They join Jonathan Ross for the live show, offering insight, commentary and analysis of Hollywood's biggest night.

For those in the UK, the ceremony will begin at midnight, though ITV's coverage will kick off from 10:15pm.

Who is hosting the Oscars 2026?

Conan O'Brien returns to the Oscars stage for a second year, a move that was confirmed less than a month after last year's ceremony drew to a close.

O'Brien has been testing out his presenter material in comedy clubs, telling the New Yorker: "I grew up watching Bob Hope do it, Johnny Carson do it. So it’s a very cool thing to be connected to. As you know, I’m very interested in history, and this thing has been around for a hundred years — almost a hundred years — so let’s have fun with it, is my attitude."

Which musical acts will perform at the Oscars 2026?

This year's Oscars will feature musical tributes from Sinners and KPop Demon Hunters.

"This year, our music performances are inspired by two of the most powerful cultural phenomena in film: Sinners, the most nominated film in Oscars history, and KPop Demon Hunters, a global pop culture sensation," Oscar producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan said in a joint statement.

"These show moments are more than just performances — they expand into cinematic tributes that celebrate the relationship between music and storytelling and why these films resonated so deeply with audiences around the world."

Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq will perform I Lied to You alongside Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey and Alice Smith.

While the voices of HUNTR/X, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, will perform Golden from the hit animated movie.

Who is presenting awards at the Oscars 2026?

There are plenty of starry names in this year's presenting line-up, including former winners Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, Mikey Madison and Zoe Saldaña.

Other confirmed presenters include One Battle After Another breakout star Chase Infiniti, Hamnet's Paul Mescal, plus Oscar nominees Rose Byrne, Delroy Lindo and Wagner Moura.

Javier Bardem, Chris Evans, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Maya Rudolph, Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Robert Downey Jr, Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Jimmy Kimmel, Ewan McGregor, Pedro Pascal, Bill Pullman, Lewis Pullman, Channing Tatum and Sigourney Weaver round out the line-up.

The Academy Awards will air on Sunday 15 March 2026.

Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.