Movies are a wonderfully powerful form of entertainment. They can make you laugh, cry, or ponder the universe via a series of deftly crafted moving pictures displayed on the silver screen—you don’t even need words or music. On March 15, Hollywood pays homage to film, specifically 2025’s best releases, at the 98th Academy Awards. If you’re not one of the fortunate few people invited to watch the celebration in person at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, you can stream the Oscars from home or at a pub with a live TV service—and do so safely with a VPN. I’ll show you how.
What are the Best Picture Nominees for 2026?
With 16 nominations, Ryan Coogler’s thought-provoking vampire musical-horror film Sinners has received the most Oscar nominations ever. Paul Thomas Anderson’s absurd political thriller One Battle After Another is another frontrunner. And, of course, you can find some of those movies’ actors nominated for Oscars, too. Here’s a short list.
Best Picture
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Bugonia
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F1
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Frankenstein
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Hamnet
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Marty Supreme
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One Battle After Another
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The Secret Agent
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Sentimental Value
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Sinners
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Train Dreams
Best Actor in a Leading Role
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Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
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Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
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Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
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Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
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Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent
Best Actress in a Leading Role
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Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
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Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
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Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
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Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
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Emma Stone – Bugonia
For a deeper dive, check out our guide on where to stream the 2026 Oscar nominees.
Who Is Hosting the Oscars This Year?
From Jimmy Kimmel to Jon Stewart, beloved talk show hosts are no strangers to this stage. So, it’s no surprise that Conan O’Brien returns to host this year’s Academy Awards. This will be O’Brien’s second time hosting the ceremony, following last year’s show, which received great acclaim.
Our Top-Rated Video Streaming Services for Watching the Oscars
How to Stream the Oscars at Home
The Oscars will air on ABC, starting at 7 p.m. ET on March 15. If you haven’t cut the cord, you can watch the show via cable or over-the-air TV. Got Hulu? Subscribers can stream the show live without opting for the pricey live TV tier. The ceremony will also be available to stream the following day, Monday, March 16.
If you’ve fully embraced the streaming lifestyle, you can also use a live TV streaming service to enjoy the show. DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and many others should grant you streaming access to the live ceremony. These services are typically pricey, averaging nearly $100 per month. However, YouTube TV recently rolled out low-cost bundles focused on specific genres. So you can pay less to watch the Oscars if you don’t care about sports.
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Can You Watch the Oscars for Free?
You can stream the Oscars via ABC.com or the ABC app, but you must authenticate your account with Spectrum, Verizon, or any other pay TV service provider.
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Video streaming services are a different beast. As mentioned earlier, the Oscars will be streamed on premium services, but you can take advantage of their free trials since you only need one night to watch the show. Hulu, for example, has a three-day trial, making it a terrific platform for streaming the Academy Awards. Otherwise, you’ll have to settle for watching acceptance speeches on YouTube.
Our Top-Rated VPNs for Streaming the Oscars
How to Watch the Oscars With a VPN
Whether you’re seeking out the international films, arguing about the nominees on social media, or getting ready to watch the show itself, the best way to stay safe and private online is with a VPN. By spoofing your geographic location, a VPN can even help you catch an Oscars stream if you’re outside of the US. Just be aware that VPNs may not be compatible with video streaming services due to regional licensing restrictions.
About Our Expert
Jordan Minor
Senior Writer, Software
Experience
My PCMag career began in 2013 as an intern. Now, I’m a senior writer, using the skills I acquired at Northwestern University to write about dating apps, meal kits, programming software, website builders, video streaming services, and video games. I was previously a senior editor at Geek.com and have written for The A.V. Club, Kotaku, and Paste Magazine. I’m the author of the gaming history book Video Game of the Year: A Year-by-Year Guide to the Best, Boldest, and Most Bizarre Games from Every Year Since 1977, and the reason everything you know about Street Sharks is a lie.
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