Conan O’Brien returns as Oscars host; Ryan Coogler’s Sinners leads nominations

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has set the 98th Academy Awards for Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, announcing Conan O’Brien will return as host and that viewers can watch live on ABC and stream on Hulu. The lineup of presenters already reads like a who’s who of Hollywood, and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners leads the field with a record 16 nominations, a development that reshapes awards season narratives and box office attention for months to come.

Presenters confirmed in rounds announced by producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan include returning acting winners Mikey Madison, Adrien Brody, Zoë Saldaña and Kieran Culkin, followed by stars such as Javier Bardem, Chris Evans, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani, Maya Rudolph, Anne Hathaway, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Mescal, Will Arnett and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Deadline noted the list as the third official round of presenters and cautioned that, "More presenters will be revealed in the weeks leading up to the 2026 Oscars."

Variety cataloged the Best Picture slate with Sinners and One Battle After Another leading a ten-film lineup that also includes Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value and Train Dreams. Variety and Vulture also listed the Best Director nominees: Ryan Coogler for Sinners, Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another, Chloé Zhao for Hamnet, Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme and Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value. Koimoi provided the Best Actor nominees as Michael B. Jordan, Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura and noted "this year, 20 actors and actresses have been nominated across different acting categories."

Producers are signaling a show that leans into contemporary movies and entertainment culture. Lynette Howell Taylor, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said, "This year will feel fresh and new because the movies are different, and [O’Brien] really knows how to play off of that." The Academy’s chief executive Bill Kramer praised O’Brien’s fit as host, calling him "the perfect host" for his blend of "humor, warmth, and reverence," language reported by Koimoi. Producers Raj Kapoor, Katy Mullan and Taryn Hurd also sent a letter to music nominees emphasizing that two chosen songs "have played a defining role in their global cultural impact and audience connection this year."

Broadcast scheduling details vary among outlets: Variety reported, "Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the 98th Academy Awards will air live on ABC and stream live on Hulu on Sunday, March 15, at 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT, with the official live red-carpet show airing at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT." Koimoi stated the ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. ET, while Deadline reported a different start time, saying the show "will air live at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15, from the Dolby Theatre." The conflicting start times underscore the practical need for viewers and industry partners to confirm the official schedule with the Academy or broadcasters.

Beyond ceremony logistics, the nominations and presenter slate signal broader industry dynamics. A 16-nod leader like Sinners concentrates critical attention, marketing value and future streaming or theatrical revenue; returning winners presenting awards reinforce the Academy’s continuity narrative; and the ABC-Hulu simulcast confirms the sustained strategy of pairing linear broadcast reach with streaming access. The procession of stars and producers suggests a broadcast that will trade on familiarity while explicitly aiming to spotlight the films that have dominated conversation this season.