As the grand finale of the awards season approaches, the 96th Oscars ceremony is eagerly anticipated, scheduled for Sunday, March 10, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This year’s Oscars, streaming live, promises to be a coronation for the film “Oppenheimer,” leading with 13 nominations.
The ceremony will commence at 7 p.m. EDT, an hour earlier than usual, with a pre-show starting at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Notably, this date coincides with the beginning of daylight saving time in the U.S., prompting a friendly reminder to adjust clocks accordingly.
Several renowned actors, including Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Al Pacino, are set to present at the Oscars. The event will be available for streaming on ABC.com, the ABC app, and various streaming services like Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV, and FuboTV.
Jimmy Kimmel returns as the host for the fourth time, joining the ranks of Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon. The coveted Best Picture category includes nominees like “Oppenheimer,” “Barbie,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Poor Things,” and more.
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is considered the frontrunner, with Nolan also expected to secure his first Oscar for Best Director. Excitement surrounds categories like Best Actress, where Lily Gladstone and Emma Stone are contenders, and Best Actor, featuring Cillian Murphy and Paul Giamatti.
“Barbie,” despite being a major box-office hit, raised eyebrows for certain snubs in categories like Best Director and Best Actress. Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie were notably left out, sparking discussions about the challenges comedies historically face at the Oscars.
This year’s Oscars, starting an hour earlier and with no major changes, will broadcast all awards live, excluding honorary prizes. A new award for Best Casting has been introduced but will debut in the 2026 Oscars.
Beyond the competition, notable moments include John Williams’ record 49th Best Score nomination for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and the first-time inclusion of two non-English language films, “The Zone of Interest” and “Anatomy of a Fall,” in the Best Picture category. The Oscars ceremony promises a blend of anticipation, star-studded presentations, and recognition of outstanding achievements in the world of cinema.
