The Oscars This Weekend: Why Hollywood’s Biggest Night Is Still Worth Watching

The Oscars This Weekend: Why Hollywood’s Biggest Night Is Still Worth Watching

This weekend, Hollywood will be rolling out the red carpet for one of the most popular entertainment events in the world: the Oscars. Yes, you got it right! The 98th edition of the Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

For most people, the Oscars may appear to be a long event only interested parties—movie enthusiasts—would enjoy. However, even if you are not a fan of movies or Hollywood news, the Oscars are one of the most fascinating events of the year, filled with unexpected moments and controversy.

A Global Celebration of Movies

The Academy Awards are run by a group called the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which has thousands of professionals from within the film industry. They vote every year to give out awards in 24 different categories, ranging from acting to sound design to costumes and visual effects.

The event is watched by millions of people worldwide as it is broadcast from around the globe. The event is basically like the Super Bowl of movies, where the biggest achievements are honored within the film industry. The event is also where major cultural moments are happening as it is a live event.

This year, the event will be hosted by a comedian named Conan O’Brien.

The Movies Everyone Is Talking About

A major cause of the interest in the Oscars ceremony of this year is the diversity of the movies competing in the race for the Best Picture award. There are a total of ten movies in the race.

The movies competing in the race are: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, Train Dreams, and many more!

Among these movies, one stands apart from the rest. It is the movie “Sinners,” directed by and starring Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler. It is the most nominated movie of the year with a total of 16 nominations.

The movie combines genres of historical drama, horror, and music and depicts a story of twin brothers returning to Mississippi in the 1930s only to find a supernatural force waiting for them.

However, the race for the Best Picture award is far from over. Political drama “One Battle After Another,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is also in the race after a good show at previous ceremonies.

Why Even Non-Movie Fans Watch

While you may not have seen any of the movies that are up for an award, the Oscars are still a very entertaining event. This is due to the fact that the Oscars are known for having moments that are beyond the movies.

Every year, the Oscars are known for having memorable speeches from the winners, Unexpected upsets where movies that are considered underdogs end up winning, Viral moments that end up trending on social media, Fashion moments from the red carpet, Musical performances and tributes, and many more!

The red carpet, where celebrities get to wear their most extravagant attire, is already a fashion event that is viewed by millions of people worldwide even before the event begins.

The Spectacle Behind the Scenes

Yet another interesting aspect of the Oscars is the enormous production that takes place behind the scenes. The event requires the assistance of hundreds of crew members, performers, and designers who come together to put up an event that will be televised around the globe.

This year’s event will include various celebrity presenters who will be big names in the world of Hollywood. There will be musical performances, tributes to old movies and legends of the industry, special segments on international cinema, and so on.

And in true Hollywood style, the nominees will also receive lavish gift bags that will be worth $350,000.

A Changing Film Industry

This year’s Oscars are also happening at a significant period of transformation for the movie industry. There are discussions and debates happening about the influence of artificial intelligence in the production of movies, the role of streaming services compared to traditional movie showings, and the dominance of the major movie studios.

The Oscars are a reflection of the changing times, as many movies from around the world and from a variety of genres are being honored.

For instance, the movies that are nominated for Best Picture are a mix of movies from the world of sports, independent movies, and movies from around the world.

How to Watch

For those in the United States, the event will be broadcast live on ABC and can be streamed on Hulu and other live TV services.

The broadcast itself will start at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, although a red-carpet pre-show will start earlier in the evening.

While some may not be interested in watching the whole event live, many people watch highlights later that night or the following morning after speeches and performances are shared online.

Why the Oscars Still Matter

In a day and age where streaming services and entertainment options are at an all-time high, the Oscars are a rare event where the entire film industry, and indeed the world, comes together to celebrate the art of storytelling.

For filmmakers, winning an Oscar is a game-changer. For actors and directors, it is the ultimate accolade in their profession. And for filmgoers, it is a chance to experience some films they may have otherwise missed.

But perhaps most importantly, the Oscars are a reminder to people everywhere of the power of film to tell stories that inspire, challenge, and entertain.

Regardless if you are a film buff or someone who has not stepped foot in a theater in years, the Oscars are an event worth paying attention to—because on Hollywood’s biggest night, anything can happen.

By Luis Garcia Jr

A Successful Journalist, Editor, and Media professional for over 8 years, where my focus is to inform the community and the world on current events.

ABC News- Oscar predictions: Film expert makes picks for Hollywood’s biggest night

New York Times- Oscars 2026 Predictions: Who Will Win Best Picture, Actor and Actress?

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Inset Image Courtesy spongebabyalwaysfull of Flickr Page – Creative Commons License