The Academy Awards return for the 98th ceremony, where the best films, performances, and technical and creative work of the past year will be recognized. We've rounded up everything you need to know about where to watch the Oscars live stream, including free options.
Conan O'Brien returns to host the Oscars, following up on his successful run at last year's ceremony. The 98th Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. In addition to 24 award categories, the star-studded evening will feature musical performances.
It's been an interesting awards season, with most major categories lacking a clear, anticipated winner. "Sinners" leads the pack with a record-breaking 16 nominations. "One Battle After Another," "Marty Supreme," and "Hamnet" also racked up an impressive number of nods. The Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress categories are all up in the air following a variety of winners across several of this season's awards shows. Best Actress has largely been locked up by "Hamnet" star Jessie Buckley this season, but Rose Byrne has earned critical acclaim (and the Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy Golden Globe) for her performance in indie darling "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You."
If you're hoping to tune in, you've come to the right place. Keep reading to learn how to watch the Academy Awards around the world. The ceremony will officially begin at 7 p.m. ET, but early red carpet coverage will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and the official red carpet show will air at 6:30 p.m.
Where to watch the Oscars for free
The Academy Awards will be broadcast for free in several countries. In the UK, viewers can live stream the event for free on ITVX. In Australia, 7Plus will live stream the Oscars for free. In the US, fans can stream the event through a free trial on live TV services such as DirecTV, Fubo, or Hulu.
How to watch the Oscars from anywhere
If you're away from somewhere like the UK or Australia during the ceremony and still hoping to access your free options, you can do so with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are cybersecurity tools that let you temporarily alter your device's virtual location. This way, your go-to websites and apps work from anywhere. They're especially popular among those looking to access their usual services while traveling abroad and hoping to boost their online security.
NordVPN is our top recommendation right now. It's fast, easy to use, and offers several perks and deals in its higher tiers. Plus, the service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for. You can learn more in our NordVPN review.
Where to watch the Oscars in the US
The Oscars will air on ABC in the United States. Fans without cable or an antenna have a few different options when it comes to live streaming the event. ABC is available through several services, including DirecTV and Fubo, two of the best live TV streaming services we've tested.
ABC is offered in all DirecTV Signature plans (which start at $90 a month for the Entertainment tier), but the network is also included in the budget-friendly DirecTV MyNews genre pack. This option carries around 10 channels. Just make sure you double-check what's available in your ZIP code, since there can be regional variability in local networks. MyNews costs $40 a month, but new users can get their first two months for $35 a month after a five-day free trial.
ABC is also available through Fubo. Subscriptions start at $56 a month for the Fubo Sports + News plan, which offers around 26 channels, in addition to ESPN Unlimited access. New users can get $10 off their first month of service after a five-day free trial.
The Oscars will also be available through Hulu. While you'll otherwise need a Hulu + Live TV package (which starts at $90 a month) to live stream ABC, the Academy Awards will be available live with stand-alone Hulu subscriptions, which start at $12 a month for ad-supported service. For a limited time, a Disney Plus and Hulu bundle deal will give you your first three months of the two streaming services for just $5 a month (after which point plans will renew at the then-standard rate, currently $13 a month). The ceremony will also be available to stream on demand on Hulu starting Monday.
Where to watch the Oscars in the UK
ITV1 will carry coverage of the Academy Awards in the UK. This means that people will be able to live stream the action for free on ITVX. Viewers just need to create an account if they don't already have one, and then they're all set to start streaming.
Where to watch the Oscars in Australia
In Australia, Seven will have all of the Oscars action. Fans will be able to live stream the coverage via 7Plus, a free streaming service that just requires account creation to access.
How long are the Oscars?
The Oscars typically last several hours. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. ET, and US TV guides have coverage blocked out on ABC until 10:30 p.m. This makes it about a three-and-a-half-hour ceremony, but it's been known to run over in the past.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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