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How to Stream the Oscars Red Carpet This Year (for Free)
One of the last major events as part of Hollywood’s annual awards circuit has finally arrived — or is about to. The 98th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are being held on Sunday, March 15, starting at 7 p.m. EST. The 3.5-hour-long ceremony at the iconic Dolby Theatre (where it has been taking place since 2002) promises to treat viewers to dozens of not-to-miss moments: from the Best Actor announcement (on the betting app Kalshi, 56 percent of users have put their money on Michael B. Jordan, as compared to Timothée Chalamet’s 35 percent) to all the emotional speeches, playful digs, and musical performances that have long made this night one of the entertainment industry’s best.
We might be biased, but our favorite part of the Academy Awards programming is what comes before all the A-listers even take their seats: the red carpet, of course. This year, ABC’s official red carpet segment is kicking off at 6:30 p.m. EST, and you can catch every angle and interview without needing a cable subscription. In fact, a variety of the best live TV streaming platforms — like DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo — not only carry ABC in their most popular packages but come with multi-day trials that will allow you to watch the Oscars red carpet for free online. If you want even more content for your Oscars watch party, be sure to view E!’s extended Oscars red carpet broadcast, beginning at 4 p.m. EST. The E! channel can similarly be watched on DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV.
Courtesy Richard Harbaugh/Getty Images
How to Watch the 2026 Oscars Red Carpet Online for Free
ABC’s “The Oscars Red Carpet Show” will be hosted by Tamron Hall and Jesse Palmer. If you’ve long ago said “no” to cable, you can still get the scoop from the Emmy-winning television talk show host and, arguably, “The Bachelor’s” most famous man — with the help of the below streaming services and their free trials.
Extending the spectacle of the 2026 Oscars is E!’s “Live From the Red Carpet” show, which calls itself an “all-access pass to the stars and styles of entertainment’s biggest night.” E! is bringing out TV personality Zuri Hall to helm the Q&As, with specific sartorial breakdowns provided by style correspondent Zanna Roberts Rassi and E! entertainment host Justin Sylvester. Good news: If you’ve already activated free trials for DirecTV or Hulu + Live TV to stream the actual Oscars live on ABC, you can use the very same sites to alternate between E! and ABC’s star-studded red carpet coverage.
Here, an inside look at each editor-recommended live TV streaming provider’s benefits and how you can take advantage of them starting today.
EDITOR’s CHOICE
DirecTV
ABC and E! are found across DirecTV’s top-rated streaming packages, including Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier. As of right now, all subscriptions come with a five-day free trial for watching the Oscars red carpet live online, after which you can binge other ABC hits like “Grey’s Anatomy” or E!’s buzzy “Dirty Rotten Scandals.”
Got hooked? DirecTV channel bundles start at $59.99 for your first month (courtesy of the $35-off deal on the Choice plan, for a limited time only).
BEST FOR ENTERTAINMENT
Hulu + Live TV
Eager to see the kinds of gowns stars from Emma Stone (Best Actress nominee) to Teyana Taylor (Best Supporting Actress nominee) roll up to the Dolby Theater in? Hulu + Live TV will get you a front-row ticket to the happenings, from the comforts of home. The streaming leader is equipped with over 95 channels (E! and ABC are two of them), and don’t forget that Disney+ also comes attached for your viewing pleasure. The trial here is three days long, but that’s more than enough time to absorb — and proceed to talk about — everything that goes down on the Oscars’ red carpet. After the trial ends, Hulu + Live TV will cost you $89.99 a month.
free dvr
Fubo
Editor’s note: E! is not carried by Fubo, but ABC is. The platform is also one that comes with a free trial lasting five days; if you continue turning to Fubo for your entertainment needs post-Oscars, its Pro plan clocks in at $48.99/mo after the trial and the Elite plan goes for $53.99/mo (you’re going to get $25 and $30 off your first month, respectively).
Why we love Fubo and are loyal to it? The free trial includes DVR, so you can actually record ABC’s “The Oscars Red Carpet Show” and watch it back, on demand, at any time: should you need to reference the designers worn by a particular male celebrity or a surprisingly affordable pair of shoes seen in front of that step and repeat.
Who Will Be at the Oscars Red Carpet This Year?
The greatest creatives of our time walk the Academy Awards red carpet every year. Based on 2026’s list of nominees, we are greatly anticipating the arrivals of Jessie Buckley, Kate Hudson, Chloé Zhao, Elle Fanning, Natalie Portman, Delroy Lindo, Jacob Elordi, and no shortage of other masters of their craft: in the running for either individual or group awards this year after stellar work in recently released cinema.
Who Will Present at the 2026 Oscars?
Of course, individuals presenting at the Oscars ceremony manage to generate no less excitement surrounding their appearances. In 2026, the presenters to look out for include Nicole Kidman, Jimmy Kimmel, Pedro Pascal, Channing Tatum, Anne Hathaway, Paul Mescal, and more. Staying true to tradition, last year’s statuette receivers are going to be opening the envelopes for the categories in which they won, meaning Mikey Madison, Zoe Saldaña, Adrian Brody, and Kieran Culkin will all be handing out awards, too.
Courtesy Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images
Who Will Host the 2026 Oscars?
Broadcast journalists, TV personalities, and fashion reporters typically get assigned red carpet hosting duties at major awards shows like the Oscars, and this year is no different. Starting at 7 p.m. EST, though, Conan O’Brien will be taking the wheel as he returns to the big stage for the second time in a row.
Who Is Nominated for the Oscars This Year?
According to the Academy, here are some of the names and films vying for recognition at the 2026 Oscars.
Actor in a Leading Role
Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle after Another”
Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon”
Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”
Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent”
Actress in a Leading Role
Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”
Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”
Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue”
Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value”
Emma Stone, “Bugonia”
Costume Design
“Avatar: Fire and Ash,” Deborah L. Scott
“Frankenstein,” Kate Hawley
“Hamnet,” Malgosia Turzanska
“Marty Supreme,” Miyako Bellizzi
“Sinners,” Ruth E. Carter
Directing
“Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao
“Marty Supreme,” Josh Safdie
“One Battle after Another,” Paul Thomas Anderson
“Sentimental Value,” Joachim Trier
“Sinners,” Ryan Coogler
What Are Celebrities Going to Wear at the 2026 Oscars Red Carpet?
We aren’t oracles, but we can predict a thing or two about the fashion equations you’re about to witness on the 2026 Oscars red carpet — given the ensembles at Oscars prior and those that went viral during this year’s awards season alike.
In 2025, for instance, metallic dresses were a standout trend: hugging the curves of everyone from Demi Moore to Doja Cat and blessing the paparazzi with some camera-friendly shine. At the famous after-party organized by Vanity Fair, sheer styles were also prevalent last year, and cutouts made a statement as part of the eveningwear of Sydney Sweeney, Emma Chamberlain, and beyond. Translation: Skin will be shown again, and reflective surfaces will likely be utilized by stylists once more, to much effect.
Courtesy Frazer Harrison, Gilbert Flores, Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
The WWD team is also forecasting that all things bias-cut are “poised for a revival,” especially in light of how integral the silhouette was in the trending-right-now Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy‘s ’90s-chic aesthetic. And if the recent Actor Awards were any indication, there will be lots of straps, height, and crystal embellishments in the footwear department. Hair-wise, expect to be inspired by bobs left and right, seeing as how Michelle Williams and Leslie Bibb (the “cunty little bob” O.G.) were joined by a multitude of other starlets who showed off the chop on earlier red carpets. In the present, this ‘do direction is being spearheaded by Margot Robbie, a new initiate; Moore; Selena Gomez; and Gracie Abrams.
So far, WWD got confirmation of the following beauty brands that are going to be utilized by celebrity MUAs in preparation for their clients’ Sunday outing: Aveeno on Misty Copeland, Dr. Althea on Priyanka Chopra, Patrick Ta Beauty and Rare Beauty on Rachel Sennott, and Neutrogena and Pureology on Tate McRae.
Don’t miss a second by subscribing to DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo today and streaming the Oscars red carpet for free online.
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Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on trending news and must-stream awards shows.
