Everything you need to know about the upcoming 96th Academy Awards
From anticipated wins and nominations, to presenters—here's everything we know about the upcoming Oscars.
Saving the best of the awards season for the last, the much-awaited Academy Awards is finally here! Going live on Sunday, March 10, the 96th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in LA with Jimmy Kimmel returning as host for the fourth time in a row. Amid the excitement, there’s one pressing question on everyone’s minds—is it going to be another clean sweep for Oppenheimer? Or will Poor Things and Killers of the Flower Moon sweep this one? We can’t wait to find out.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming awards.
Who are the favourites to win?
What time are the awards and where can you watch it?
Viewers in India can watch the event live on Disney+ Hotstar on Monday, March 11, from 4 am IST onwards. The preshow, The Oscars Red Carpet Show, will be hosted by Vanessa Hudgens and Julianne Hough and will start at 5 am IST followed by the ceremony an hour later.
Who is hosting the Oscars?
Jimmy Kimmel will host the gala event for the fourth time now, joining fellow four-timers Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon and trailing Johnny Carson (five), Billy Crystal (nine), and Bob Hope (11) among repeat Oscar hosts.
“It’s an experience that I try to remember is special,” Kimmel said in a recent interview with the Associated Press. “I just want to make sure for the people who are watching and the people who are there that we bring the proper amount of respect and also the proper amount of disrespect to the proceedings.”
What about the performances?
The Academy Awards will witness five fantastic performances by each of the nominations in the Best Original Song category. This means Ryan Gosling is going to serenade those present with "I’m Just Ken" from Barbie along with Billie Eilish lending her voice to "What Was I Made For", from the same film. The other nominated tracks include "The Fire Inside", from Flamin’ Hot, which will be performed by Becky G, "It Never Went Away" from American Symphony by Jon Batiste, and Scott George’s "Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)" from Killers of the Flower Moon that will be performed by Dan Wilson.
Who are the presenters this time?
Oscar tradition sees the previous year’s winners return to stage as presenters. That means favourites like Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, and Jamie Lee Curtis will be handing out awards. There will also be other presenters like Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Keaton, Regina King, Jennifer Lawrence, Kate McKinnon, Rita Moreno, John Mulaney, Catherine O’Hara, Octavia Spencer, and Ramy Youssef.
We are excited as ever for the gala event to begin with all eyes on the biggest celebrities in town looking like a million bucks (maybe more) on the red carpet. Tune in to see which of the stars takes home the coveted trophy. We, for one, simply cannot wait!
