98th Academy Awards — March 15, 2026

After the Oscars

The ceremony ends at midnight. Then twenty parties start at once. Your complete guide to every after party, every live blog, every watch event — and how to follow the night from anywhere.

Ceremony ends: ~Midnight CDT
Venue: Dolby Theatre, Hollywood
Parties: 15+ across LA
1 PM CDT
E! Brunch at the Oscars
E! Network pre-show begins
3 PM CDT
E! Red Carpet Live
CNN/Variety pre-show also begins
5 PM CDT
Academy Museum Watch Party
Ticketed — Wolfgang Puck catering
6 PM CDT
Ceremony begins
ABC & Hulu
9:30 PM CDT
E! Oscars After Party Show
Governors Ball & VF arrivals
~Midnight CDT
Ceremony ends
Governors Ball opens immediately
The After Party Circuit

Every Major Party on Oscar Night

The ceremony seats 3,300 people. The parties after it seat tens of thousands more — spread across a two-mile radius of Hollywood running until 3 or 4 AM.

Official Academy Party — 67th Annual
The Governors Ball
Ray Dolby Ballroom, Ovation Hollywood — Directly after the ceremony
★ Industry invite only — Academy members & guests
The official Academy after-party, held directly above the Dolby Theatre in the Ray Dolby Ballroom, is the first place winners go after the ceremony — Oscar in hand, makeup still on. It is the most institutional party of the night and the one that matters most: the room where the industry congratulates itself, where speeches are replayed on the monitors overhead, and where the emotional reality of the evening settles in over champagne and smoked salmon.
Chef
Wolfgang Puck — 32nd consecutive year. Executive Chef Eric Klein; pastry by Garry Larduinat & Kamel Guechida
Menu
70 new dishes this year. Signature smoked salmon Oscar matzohs, aged white cheddar mac & cheese, pea agnolotti pasta, new taro root taco, Asian stations (sushi, chicken karaage, duck bao buns, miso cod lettuce wraps), Austrian desserts (Sachertorte, apple strudel), and chocolate Oscar statuettes dusted in 24-karat gold
Drinks
Tequila Don Julio (9th consecutive year) — signature cocktails “The Sequel” (Don Julio 1942), “Best in Show” (Don Julio Blanco), and non-alcoholic “After Glow”. Wines by Clarendelle & Domaine Clarence Dillon (4th year)
Watch
E! captures red carpet arrivals and candid moments inside beginning at 9:30 PM CDT
31st Annual — New Venue
Vanity Fair Oscar Party
LACMA David Geffen Galleries, Los Angeles
★ Invite only — most exclusive in Hollywood
In one of the biggest venue changes in recent Hollywood history, Vanity Fair has moved its legendary Oscar party from its longtime Beverly Hills home to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s brand-new David Geffen Galleries — a $750 million, 110,000 sq ft space designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The party is effectively the building’s public debut: the Geffen Galleries don’t officially open until April 2026. The new setting is expected to produce some of the most striking party photography in years.
Venue
LACMA David Geffen Galleries — 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. 110,000 sq ft across interconnected courtyards and facades
Partnership
Multi-year deal between LACMA and Vanity Fair under new global editorial director Mark Guiducci. Netflix also hosts a separate party on the same LACMA campus.
Note
VF has cut the guest list this year, reportedly frustrating agents and publicists — making invites even more coveted than usual
Vanity Fair →
34th Annual — Benefit Event
Elton John AIDS Foundation Viewing Party
West Hollywood Park, West Hollywood
★ Ticketed — tables available via EJAF
Sir Elton John and David Furnish co-host their annual benefit — the most philanthropically important party on the Oscar circuit. The evening combines a luxury viewing of the ceremony, a multi-course dinner, live entertainment, and a live auction benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised over $600 million since 1993. This year’s performer is Lola Young, the British singer-songwriter who won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in February 2026.
Hosts
Elton John, David Furnish, Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka
Performer
Lola Young — 2026 Grammy winner for Best New Artist
Tickets
Tables via AAVP@eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org or premium resellers. In 2025 the event raised over $8 million.
Note
West Hollywood Park closures and street restrictions in effect. Plan travel accordingly.
Official site →
Studio Party
Warner Bros. Nominees Party
Mother Wolf, Hollywood
★ Industry invite only
Warner Bros. enters the ceremony with enormous momentum: Sinners (16 nominations, all-time record) and One Battle After Another (13 nominations) together represent the most dominant studio performance in years. The pre-ceremony dinner at the Hollywood restaurant Mother Wolf is expected to be attended by Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Paul Thomas Anderson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and both full casts before they head to the Dolby.
Films
Sinners (16 noms), One Battle After Another (13 noms), Weapons
Timing
Pre-ceremony celebration followed by a post-ceremony event once results are known
Annual Industry Party
Jay-Z & Beyoncé Gold Party
Chateau Marmont, Sunset Strip
★ Invite only
The annual Gold Party, co-hosted by Jay-Z and Beyoncé, is one of Hollywood’s most anticipated Oscar night events — an intimate gathering that draws music, film, and fashion royalty to the iconic Chateau Marmont. The party runs deep into the early hours of Monday morning and is consistently cited as the most electric room of the entire evening.
Venue
Chateau Marmont, 8221 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood
18th Annual
Madonna & Guy Oseary “The Party”
Location TBC
★ Invite only
Madonna and talent manager Guy Oseary host their annual party, now in its 18th year, which has become one of the most consistent fixtures of Oscar night. The event is known for its cross-industry guest list spanning music, film, and fashion, and for providing complimentary chauffeured rides home for guests.
Perks
Complimentary chauffeured rides home provided for all guests
Streaming Party
Netflix After-Party
LACMA Campus, Los Angeles
★ Invite only
Netflix, celebrating nominations for Frankenstein and Train Dreams, hosts its post-ceremony gathering on the same LACMA campus as the Vanity Fair party. The overlapping LACMA footprint means the stretch of Wilshire Boulevard around the museum becomes the epicentre of the night’s social activity.
Films
Frankenstein (9 noms), Train Dreams, KPop Demon Hunters
Pre-party
Netflix hosted a Saturday (March 14) party at Sunset Tower honoring its nominees, hosted by Bela Bajaria
Studio Party
A24 Oscar Night Party
Location undisclosed, Los Angeles
★ Industry invite only
A24 enters Oscar night with Marty Supreme — nine nominations including Best Picture, Best Director (Brady Corbet), Best Actor (Timothée Chalamet), and Best Supporting Actor (Jeremy Strong) — making this one of the most anticipated studio parties of the evening. A24 has become the defining indie label of its generation and Oscar night is when that identity crystallises into a room. The studio is also represented by I’m Still Here (Best International Feature) and Queer.
Key films
Marty Supreme (9 noms), I’m Still Here, Queer
Note
A24 consistently runs one of the most culturally talked-about parties of the season — typically a smaller, curated room heavy with talent from across its slate
Industry & Agency Parties
CAA, WME & Studio Gatherings
Various venues across West Hollywood & Beverly Hills
★ Invite only
The full Oscar Sunday party map spans 15–20 separate events across a two-mile radius of Hollywood. Among the confirmed: CAA Living Room (8:30 PM–12:30 AM), WME at Chateau Marmont (8–11 PM), Chanel & Charles Finch Dinner, Giorgio Armani, and a Women in Film gathering. A24, riding the momentum of Marty Supreme’s nine nominations, holds its own event.

“The ceremony is where they hand out the prizes. The parties are where Hollywood decides what it meant.”

TV & Streaming Coverage

How to Watch the After Parties from Home

You don’t need an invite to the Governors Ball. Here’s everything broadcasting from inside the parties.

E! Network
E! Live from the Red Carpet
3:00 PM CDT — E! and Peacock
The definitive pre-show. E!’s team on the carpet at Ovation Hollywood for arrivals, interviews, and fashion commentary running up to the ceremony start.
Watch on E! → Watch on Peacock →
E! Network
E! Oscars After Party
9:30 PM CDT — E! and Peacock
Captures winners and stars arriving at the Governors Ball red carpet and the Vanity Fair LACMA party. Hosts: Loni Love, Melissa Peterman, Daryn Carp, NeNe Leakes, and creative director/makeup artist Sir John. The best at-home view into the after party circuit.
Watch on E! → Watch on Peacock →
CNN / Variety
CNN/Variety Red Carpet Pre-Show
3:00 PM CDT — CNN & CNN digital
CNN returns to the Oscar red carpet for the first time in nearly a decade, co-producing its pre-show with Variety. A significant editorial partnership generating both broadcast and digital content.
Watch on CNN → Variety →
ABC / Hulu
98th Academy Awards Ceremony
6:00 PM CDT — ABC & Hulu (live)
The ceremony itself, hosted by Conan O’Brien. ABC’s official pre-show with Tamron Hall and Jesse Palmer begins at 5:30 PM CDT. Hulu offers full live stream access for the first time this year.
Watch on ABC → Watch on Hulu →
E! Network
E! Brunch at the Oscars
1:00 PM CDT — E! Network
Hosted by Justin Sylvester and Keltie Knight. Pre-show previewing the night’s nominees, fashion predictions, and what to watch for on the carpet.
Watch on E! →
Livestream
Vanity Fair Party Livestream
Post-ceremony — online
Vanity Fair is reportedly offering a livestream option for the LACMA party. Check their site for details as March 15 approaches.
vanityfair.com/oscars →
Live Blogs & Live Coverage

Follow Every Envelope in Real Time

Every major trade and entertainment outlet publishes a live winner tracker on Oscar night. These are the ones worth having open.

Variety
Variety Oscar Night Live Blog
Variety’s awards team provides live winner announcements, red carpet updates, and real-time analysis throughout the ceremony. Also co-hosting the CNN pre-show, so their digital presence starts early.
variety.com/awards →
Hollywood Reporter
THR Live Coverage & The Race
THR’s awards hub The Race provides live winner tracking alongside real-time party and event updates. Their “Complete Guide to Oscar Parties” page updates live through the night.
hollywoodreporter.com →
Deadline
Deadline Oscar Night
Deadline’s team updates winners, reactions, and party news throughout the ceremony and into the early morning hours. Their “How to Watch” and “Oscar Party List” pages are already live.
deadline.com/awards →
ABC News / GMA
ABC Digital Live Coverage
As the official broadcast partner, ABC News runs comprehensive digital live coverage on ABCNews.com alongside the TV broadcast. Good for second-screen use during the ceremony.
abcnews.go.com →
Vulture / New York Magazine
Vulture Live Blog
Vulture’s Oscar night live blog is the best read of the bunch — sharp cultural commentary, fast reactions, and genuinely good writing throughout the ceremony.
vulture.com/awards →
Awards Daily
Awards Daily Live Coverage
The independent awards tracking site that serious Oscar watchers follow year-round. Provides opinionated, knowledgeable live commentary from an awards-obsessed perspective.
awardsdaily.com →
Watch Parties

See the Oscars Live — Tickets & Public Events

From museum screenings to neighbourhood bars, these are the best ways to watch the ceremony with a crowd.

Official — Ticketed
Academy Museum Oscars Watch Party
5:00–10:00 PM CDT — Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, LA
The most prestigious public watch party available. Held at the Academy Museum’s David Geffen Theater, the event includes food by Wolfgang Puck Catering, wines from Clarendelle & Domaine Clarence Dillon, themed photo opportunities, and a big-screen ceremony viewing.
Tickets & info → Directions →
Benefit Event — Ticketed
Elton John AIDS Foundation Viewing Party
Starts ~5:00 PM CDT — West Hollywood Park
The most glamorous ticketed watch event in the country. A full ceremony viewing, multi-course dinner, Lola Young live performance, and live auction. Tables available via the EJAF directly.
Tickets → Email EJAF → Directions →
Los Angeles — Public Venues
LA Bar & Venue Events
From 6:00 PM CDT
Venues running confirmed Oscar watch events in Los Angeles include The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and 33 Taps West Hollywood. Many additional bars and restaurants across LA, West Hollywood, and Silver Lake run informal screenings.
Eventbrite listings → Hollywood Roosevelt →
Movie Theaters
Oscar-Nominated Shorts
Week of March 15 — AMC & indie theaters
AMC Theatres is showing the 2026 Oscar-Nominated Animated Shorts compilation in the week before and around the ceremony. A good complement to a home Oscars viewing.
AMC showtimes → Fandango →
At Home
Virtual Watch Parties
6:00 PM CDT — ABC & Hulu
Hulu offers full live access for the first time this year. Teleparty (browser extension) lets you sync the Hulu stream with friends remotely. Discord servers and Letterboxd live rooms are popular for Oscar night commentary.
Watch on Hulu → Teleparty → Letterboxd →
Anywhere
Host Your Own
Pre-game from 3:00 PM CDT
Download a ballot, make predictions, assign categories. The E! red carpet at 3 PM CDT is the natural start time for a home watch party.
Nominees ballot → Oscar odds → Stream on Hulu →
Social Media

Follow the Night in Real Time

The Oscar ceremony generates more live social media volume than almost any other annual event. These are the hashtags and accounts that matter.

#Oscars
The official Academy tag — the highest-volume hashtag of the night
#Oscars2026
Year-specific tag used by trades and fans for archival coverage
#AcademyAwards
Formal tag used in official Academy communications
#98thOscars
Ceremony-specific tag for this year’s event

Accounts worth following on Oscar night: @TheAcademy (official, first to post winners), @Variety and @THR (fastest trade updates), @ENews (red carpet and after-party content), @CNNEntertainment (red carpet pre-show clips), and @VanityFair (LACMA party coverage). On TikTok, @TheAcademy posts live clips from the carpet and ceremony in near-real-time.

Full Nominees → Complete Guide → Red Carpet → Oscar Odds → Awards Calendar →

Page updated March 10, 2026. Party details sourced from The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Deadline. Live blog links go to outlet award hubs — specific live blog pages activate on ceremony night. Ticket and event information subject to change; verify directly with venues before attending.