Your guide to the 2026 Oscars, from when it kicks off to who's tipped to take home a statue

The 98th Academy Awards are almost here, celebrating the best films and performances of the past year.From record-breaking nominations to major Hollywood stars competing for top honours – including some beloved Aussies – the 2026 Oscars are shaping up to be one of the most talked-about ceremonies yet.Here's everything you need to know about the biggest night in film.Want the official inside scoop on MAFS, unfiltered and unseen? Watch After The Dinner Party hereWhen are the 2026 Oscars?The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Monday morning in Australia. Coverage begins at 9:30am AEDT, with the main ceremony starting at 10am AEDT.READ MORE: The most controversial moments in Oscars historyREAD MORE: Subtle signs all is not well in Pink's marriageREAD MORE: Kyle Sandilands breaks silence on Jackie O feudWhere are the Oscars being held?As tradition dictates, the ceremony will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, the longtime home of the Academy Awards.How can Australians watch the Oscars?Viewers in Australia can watch the ceremony live on Channel 7, with streaming also available on 7Plus. Who is hosting the 2026 Oscars?Comedian and late-night host Conan O'Brien will host this year's ceremony, returning to guide audiences through Hollywood's biggest night.Who is nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress?The Best Actor category includes Michael B. Jordan, Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura.For Best Actress, the nominees are Jessie Buckley, Emma Stone, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve and Australia's very own Rose Byrne.Chalamet has also made history this year, becoming the youngest actor to receive three Best Actor nominations since Marlon Brando in 1954.Which films are nominated for Best Picture?Ten films are competing for the night's biggest award: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners and Train Dreams.Among them, Sinners has already made history with 16 nominations, making it the most nominated film of all time.Which Australians are nominated this year?Three Australians have scored nominations in 2026.Rose Byrne is nominated for Best Actress for her role in If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, marking her first Oscar nomination.Jacob Elordi also received his first nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for Frankenstein.In music, Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner are nominated for Best Original Song for Train Dreams, with lyrics by Cave.Who will be presenting and performing?Confirmed presenters include Chris Evans, Javier Bardem, Maya Rudolph, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore and Kumail Nanjiani.Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway, Paul Mescal, Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Gwyneth Paltrow have also been recently added to the list of star presenters.Two of the Best Original Song nominees will also be performed live. Golden from KPop Demon Hunters will be performed by Rei Ami, EJAE and Audrey Nuna, while Miles Caton will perform I Lied to You from Sinners.Producers said the songs were selected because they played "a defining role in their global cultural impact and audience connection this year."