The Oscars remain the top award in Hollywood. It’s the award that Leonardo DiCaprio pursued for decades before finally winning it, the stage where Matthew McConaughey’s heartfelt “three things a day” speech moved audiences around the world, and the moment where stars, both new and established, find true validation. And in 2026, the competition for the golden statuette seems fiercer than ever.
Leading the battle are the Best Actor nominees, including Timothée Chalamet for marty supremewho may have been the most expressive in his pursuit of greatness. But he faces formidable competition, including Leonardo DiCaprio for One battle after another and Michael B. Jordan for sinners.
On the actress side, Emma Stone for Bugonia is widely considered the favorite, although Jessie Buckley gave an equally convincing performance in Hamnet. In fact, it was a surprise that her co-star Paul Mescal didn’t receive a nomination.
The 2026 Oscars ceremony will be broadcast live in more than 100 countries around the world. But some lucky viewers (in the UK and Australia, as well as the US through some sneaky methods) can watch the entire three-and-a-half-hour show completely free of charge. Read on to find out how…
How to watch the Oscars 2026 for free
UK and Australian audiences have the easiest way to view the Oscars 2026 live free The ceremony is broadcast on free platforms in both countries.
Transmission options:
United Kingdom: ITVX (FREE)
Australia: 7plus (FREE)
US: Hulu (30-day free trial)
Far from home? Use a VPN to access your local streaming services from anywhere in the world.
Use a VPN to access the 2026 Oscars from anywhere
NordVPN is our best VPN (in fact, we have our own in-house expert, Mike, who tests VPNs 24/7 and rates NordVPN the best for price, streaming, security, etc.).
Nothing works as well as Nord when it comes to unblocking streaming services, so you can access your favorite Oscars 2026 live streams from anywhere!
Quick Start: Using a VPN to Watch the 2026 Oscars for Free
Once you’ve signed up with your VPN:
1. Open the NordVPN application.
2. Connect to a server based in your home country where the ceremony can be viewed for free, such as the UK, Australia or even the US.
3. Turn on ITVX, 7plus, or a free trial streaming service of your choice in the US, such as Hulu or YouTube TV.
5. Watch the Oscars 2026 streaming without cable TV, from anywhere, for FREE.
When will the 2026 Oscars take place?
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 15 at Ovation Hollywood’s iconic Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony will begin at 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT and the show is expected to last around three and a half hours.
Who will host the 2026 Oscars?
Conan O’Brien has been confirmed as the host of the 98th Academy Awards for what will be his second consecutive year.
Oscar nominations 2026
Category 1: Actor in a leading role
Timothée Chalamet, marty supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio, One battle after another
Ethan Hawke blue moon
Michael B. Jordan, sinners
Wagner Moura The secret agent
Category 2: Actor in a supporting role
Benicio Del Toro, One battle after another
Jacob Elordi, frankenstein
Delroy Lindo, sinners
Sean Penn One battle after another
Stellan Skarsgard, sentimental value
Category 3: Actress in a leading role
Jessie Buckley Hamnet
rose byrne, If I had legs I would kick you
kate hudson, blue sung song
Renate Reinsve, sentimental value
emma stone, Bugonia
Category 4: Supporting Actress
Elle Fanning sentimental value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, sentimental value
Amy Madigan Arms
Wunmi Mosaku, sinners
Teyana Taylor, One battle after another
Category 5: Animated Feature Film
Bow
elio
KPop Demon Hunters
Little Amélie or the character of the rain
Zootopia 2
Category 6: Animated short film
Butterfly
always green
The girl who cried pearls
Retirement plan
The three sisters
See the complete list of Oscar 2026 nominations.
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