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I have one question after watching the Sinners cast perform the film's Academy Award-nominated song "I Lied To You" at the Oscars, and that is: Sinners stage musical, when?

SEE ALSO: How many Oscars has 'Sinners' won?

The Oscars performance sweeps viewers up in the film's most breathtaking sequence, when blues singer Sammie "Preacher Boy" Moore (Miles Caton) performs, his music so powerful it transcends space and time. Soon, Sinners' juke joint revelers are joined by performers from the past and present, including DJs, ballerinas, and traditional Chinese opera dancers.

Sinners brought that genre-bending magic right to the Oscars, along with an onstage recreation of the film's juke joint. Caton and Raphael Saadiq performed "I Lied to You" alongside renowned singers and songwriters Eric Gales, Buddy Guy (who also appears in the movie as older Sammie), Brittany Howard, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey, and Alice Smith. Misty Copeland, the first Black woman to be named Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theater, also took the stage, as did cast members Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li.

Coming just under an hour into the Oscars telecast, this tribute to the power of music, especially the blues, is already a highlight of the night, earning a well-deserved standing ovation.

Want more Sinners musical goodness? Then check out Guy and Caton's Tiny Desk Concert, where they perform a stripped-down version of "I Lied to You" and "Travelin'."

Mashable’s covering all things Oscars 2026, from Academy Awards live updates to red carpet style and the wildest moments from the show. Check back at Mashable.com throughout the night for winners announcements and more.

Conan O'Brien channeled his inner Aunt Gladys (Academy Award winner Amy Madigan) to kick off the 98th Academy Awards.

SEE ALSO: Wildest moments from Oscars 2026

During a pre-recorded segment, the Oscars host donned the Weapons' villain's iconic reg wig and clownish makeup before getting chased down to the Dolby Theater by a troupe of bloodthirsty kids.

Along the way, he made several pit stops throughout 2025's Oscar-nominated movies. He darted across the race track in F1. He scored a point in a ping pong match against Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme. He charged across the stage during Hamnet's poignant climax, rode shotgun with One Battle After Another's Benicio del Toro, and even begged Sinners' Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) to let him into their juke joint.

Plus, he learned Norwegian just to get dressed down by Stellan Skarsgård in Sentimental Value. O'Brien may have regretted picking up the new language just for a bit, but we appreciate the effort.

Unlike in Weapons, O'Brien's Aunt Gladys actually made it out alive. O'Brien arrived on the Oscars stage totally unscathed (and sadly, wigless).

Mashable’s covering all things Oscars 2026, from Academy Awards live updates to red carpet style and the wildest moments from the show. Check back at Mashable.com throughout the night for winners announcements and more.

The best deals for watching the Oscars live without cable: BEST BUNDLE DEAL Hulu and Disney+ with ads $4.99/month for 3 months (save $8/month) Get Deal BEST long-term deal Hulu with ads annual subscription $119.99/year (save $23.89) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Hulu Student $1.99/month (save $10/month) Get Deal GET HULU FOR FREE Hulu with ads Free for T-Mobile customers (save $11.99/month) Get Deal BEST LIVE TV STREAMING DEAL YouTube TV Free 21-day trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months (save $46) Get Deal MOST AFFORDABLE LIVE TV STREAMING SERVICE Sling Select $19.99/month Get Deal

It's been another stellar year for cinema, and now it's time to award the films that shone brightest. The 98th Oscars are upon us. On March 15, the Academy will honor the best movies of 2025 on Hollywood's biggest night. Conan O’Brien is set to host the ceremony once again, and many of your favorite winners from years past will present the biggest awards of the night.

We're hoping some of our favorites receive the awards they deserve — One Battler After Another, Sinners, Hamnet, and more — but it's anyone's game. Want to see who takes home the titles of Best Actress, Best Director, Best Picture, and beyond? Here are all the details you need to know to watch the 2026 Academy Awards live with or without cable.

When are the 2026 Oscars?

The 98th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 15, 2026, and will air live at 7 p.m. ET on ABC and Hulu, with the pre-show airing at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Who are this year's Oscar nominees?

Sinners leads this year's Oscars with a record-breaking 16 nominations. Basically, every award it could be nominated for, it is. One Battle After Another follows close behind with 13, while Marty Supreme earned nine, and Hamnet nabbed seven nominations.

Each year, there are just as many snubs as there are surprises, and 2026 is no different. For instance, we were a bit flabbergasted that Wicked: For Good came up totally empty with zero nominations. Our favorite sad boy, Paul Mescal, newcomer Chase Infiniti, and Jesse Plemons were also ignored by the Academy.

See a full list of the 2026 Oscar nominations below in the FAQ section of this story.

Live from Oscars 2026 tonight: Mashable’s covering all things Oscars 2026, from Academy Awards live updates to red carpet style and the wildest moments from the show. Check back at Mashable.com through the night for winners announcements and more.

How to watch the Oscars live without cable in 2026

For those with cable or over-the-air TV, you can tune your TV to your local ABC station or watch online via ABC.com or the ABC app by logging in through your pay TV service provider. No cable access? No worries: For the second year in a row, the awards will stream simultaneously on Hulu for subscribers.

You also have the option of signing up for a live TV cable replacement service to catch the Oscars live. These services essentially act just like cable, giving you live access to a well-rounded channel selection via your internet connection (rather than a cable connection). They're contract-free and often offer trials to test them out. That means you could very well watch the Oscars for free, then cancel before being charged. But we'll leave the details up to you. Here are the best options (and deals) to watch.

Hulu streaming deals

Hulu is one of the most generous (if not the most generous) streamers, offering new and eligible returning subscribers a free 30-day trial. That means you can easily sign up and watch the Oscars for free during that time period. If you don't qualify for the free trial, we've also rounded up a few ways to save some money on your subscription.

Limited-time bundle deal: Save $8/month on three months of Hulu and Disney+ Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu / Disney+ Hulu and Disney+ (with ads) $4.99/month for 3 months (save $8/month) Get Deal

Through March 24, new subscribers can get both Hulu and Disney+ with ads for only $4.99 per month for three months. Typically $12.99 per month for the bundle, you'll save $24 total on a three-month subscription. Only new and returning subscribers can score the deal; current Disney+, ESPN, Hulu, and bundle subscribers are not eligible.

Best Hulu deal for most people: Save 16% on a Hulu (with ads) annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu with ads annual subscription $99.99 per year (save 16%) Get Deal

The best way to cut the cost of a Hulu subscription on any given day is to sign up for an annual plan with ads. You'll have to endure a few interruptions to your content and pay upfront, but it'll save you 16 percent, or just shy of $24, over the course of a year. A yearly subscription costs $119.99 (or $9.99 per month), while an $11.99 monthly plan would add up to $143.88 over a year. If you want to cut ties with ads, the price jumps to $18.99 per month, and there's no annual offer available at this time.

Best for students: Save $10/month with Hulu Student Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu Student $1.99 per month Get Deal

Students can sign up for Hulu for only $1.99 per month and stream the Oscars live. That's more than 80 percent off the usual cost of a Hulu with ads plan. The only requirement is that you can verify your college email address using SheerID.

Best for T-Mobile users: Hulu (with ads) included for select customers Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu with ads Free for T-Mobile customers on Experience Beyond plan (save $11.99/month) Get Deal

Aside from a 30-day free trial, the only other way to get Hulu for free in 2026 is by switching your phone plan to T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan. Customers on this plan can enjoy Hulu with ads for free, as well as Netflix and Apple TV.

Already on the Experience Beyond plan? Download or open the T-Life app, select Manage > See plans > Manage add-ons, then scroll to the Hulu streaming benefit and click "Continue." Follow the prompts to link an existing account or create a new one.

Live TV streaming deals

If you prefer a cable alternative that gives you access to your local ABC station and hundreds of other live channels, we recommend a few options. And many of them offer free trials and introductory pricing. Here are a couple of options.

Best introductory offer: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV 21-day free trial, then $59.99/mo for your first 2 months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan includes over 100 live channels, including your local ABC network. You'll also get unlimited DVR space, three simultaneous streams, and up to six individual accounts with personalized recommendations. For a limited time, you can get a 21-day trial to test the waters, which means you can watch the Oscars for free. Then, your first two months will cost just $59.99 per month instead of the usual $82.99 per month.

Most affordable overall: Sling TV Select package (for select areas) Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Select package (select areas only) $19.99/month Get Deal

Sling's a la carte setup and affordable pricing make it a huge competitor in the live TV streaming market. You can pick your package and channels depending on what you actually want to watch. You'll need access to ABC to watch the Oscars live, which is included in Sling's Select package for only $19.99 per month. Unfortunately, since ABC is a local network, it's only available in some local markets. Check whether your local market includes ABC before you pull the trigger — Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, and more are included.

Honorable mention: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo Fubo free 5-day trial, $48.99 for your first month Get Deal

FuboTV offers a 5-day free trial for newbies, letting you watch the Oscars on your local ABC station. You'll get access to over 200 other networks, as well as unlimited cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 different screens. After your trial, the cost for your first month is $48.99 ($73.99 per month thereafter).

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Oscars for free on 7Plus, RTÉ Player, or ITVX. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Yes, the Oscars are almost here. It’s time for the film industry to come together to congratulate itself. Expect stunning gowns, polite clapping, fake smiles, and chaotic acceptance speeches. The group chat is going to come alive for one night only.

Whether you're interested in the red carpet looks, the musical numbers, the award winners, or the sweet unpredictability of live television, you can watch this special event without spending anything. So clear your schedule and invite your sassiest friends. There's always something from this night that causes a huge stir, and we wouldn't want you to miss out on the drama.

If you want to watch the 2026 Oscars for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What are the Oscars?

The Academy Awards (the Oscars) are the awards for artistic and technical merit in film. The Oscars are widely considered to be the most prestigious awards in the film industry.

When are the 2026 Oscars?

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. ET on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Comedian Conan O'Brien is set to host the show for the second consecutive time in 2026.

How to watch the 2026 Oscars for free

The 2026 Oscars are available to live stream for free on a number of platforms:

• Australia — 7Plus

• Ireland — RTÉ Player

• UK — ITVX

Mashable’s covering all things Oscars 2026, from Academy Awards live updates to red carpet style and the wildest moments from the show. Check back at Mashable.com through the night for winners announcements and more.

These streaming platforms are geo-restricted, but anyone can access for free with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Oscars from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Visit 7Plus, RTÉ Player, or ITVX

5. Live stream the 2026 Oscars for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Oscars before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the Oscars?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to access free live streams, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2026 Oscars from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Score 100TB of Internxt lifetime cloud storage for just $974.97 (MSRP $9,900) before March 31 and never worry about running out of space again.

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100TB of cloud storage might sound like overkill for most of us, but if you’re a photographer juggling client libraries, a video producer managing terabytes of raw footage, a media agency storing creative assets, or a research lab with mountains of data, suddenly it’s not just reasonable — it’s essential.

Internxt makes storing that much data private, easy, and worry-free. And right now, you can get a 100TB Internxt Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for just $974.97 (MSRP $9,900) if you act before March 31.

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Internxt isn’t your average cloud service. It’s open-source, zero-knowledge, and post-quantum encrypted, which means only you can access your files, and hackers don’t stand a chance. You can store, share, and sync files across any device — Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or web browser — without sacrificing speed or control. The interface is clean, intuitive, and built for people who need to manage massive amounts of data without wrestling with complex menus. From secure client projects to massive photo archives or research datasets, Internxt lets you keep everything organized, private, and accessible from anywhere.

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