Team, it’s Oscars day. Maybe you really couldn’t care less. Or, maybe you’re a little interested who wins an award? Who wears the best frock? Who gives a tearjerker of a speech? Who makes a political stand on the red carpet? Whether Trump will be firing messages off on Truth Social about the host – Conan O’Brien – making too many jokes at his expense? Look, we’ll keep you posted, but in the meantime, here’s what you need to know!
How Do We Watch it In NZ – Where and When?!
This year Disney+ has the exclusive rights in NZ. Their coverage starts on Monday 16 March at 11.30am.
Who is hosting the 2026 Oscars?
Comedian and late-night host Conan O’Brien will host this year’s ceremony, returning to guide audiences through Hollywood’s biggest night for a second year.
Who is nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress?
The Best Actor category includes Michael B. Jordan (for Sinners), Timothée Chalamet (for Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (for One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (for Blue Moon) and Wagner Moura (for The Secret Agent).
Timothée Chalamet has made history this year, becoming the youngest actor to receive three Best Actor nominations since Marlon Brando in 1954. But, it’s a tight race to the Oscar Best Actor nod this year.
The other awards this season have been a real mix – Timothée won best actor at the Golden Globes in the musical/comedy category, while Wagner Moura won for drama. The Bafta went to Robert Aramayo for his role in I Swear, which was a total curveball – he isn’t even nominated at the Oscars (the film hasn’t been released in the US yet). And then the Actor Awards handed Michael B Jordan the Best Actor nod. It could go in any direction! But, if we had to make a bet, our money would likely be on Michael B Jordan. There’s been a big surge of support for him lately – is it too little too late though?
For Best Actress, the nominees are Jessie Buckley (for Hamnet), Emma Stone (for Bugonia), Kate Hudson (for Song Sung Blue), Renate Reinsve (for Sentimental Value) and Rose Byrne (for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You).
In this category, Jessie Buckley is the favourite to win, for her (devastating?!?) performance in Hamnet. She’s been dominating the award season so far.
Which films are nominated for Best Picture?
Ten films are competing for the night’s biggest award: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners and Train Dreams.
Among them, Sinners has already made history with 16 nominations, making it the most nominated film of all time. One Battle After Another – the Leonardo DiCaprio film – has the second highest number of nominations with 13 all up.
Who will be presenting and performing?
Confirmed presenters include Chris Evans, Javier Bardem, Maya Rudolph, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore and Kumail Nanjiani.
Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Paul Mescal, Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Gwyneth Paltrow have also been recently added to the list of star presenters.
Two of the Best Original Song nominees will also be performed live. Golden from KPop Demon Hunters will be performed by Rei Ami, EJAE and Audrey Nuna, while Miles Caton will perform I Lied to You from Sinners.
Producers said the songs were selected because they played “a defining role in their global cultural impact and audience connection this year.”