India is catching the 98th Academy Awards on Monday, March 16, 2026, and the timing matters more than ever. The main ceremony began at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15 in the U.S., which converts to 4:30 a.m. IST today, while the official red carpet window started at 4:00 a.m. IST. In the U.S., ABC and Hulu carried the live show, and Indian coverage has been widely listed on JioHotstar for viewers tracking the ceremony from home.
When India Had To Tune In
This is one of those global events where fans in India either stay up late or set an alarm before sunrise. Because the Oscars aired live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 15, Indian viewers saw it roll in during the early hours of March 16. That makes today’s stream feel like a live night watch rather than a next-day telecast. The schedule also lined up with full red-carpet buildup before the awards began, so fans following fashion, arrivals, and surprise celebrity moments had reason to log in early.
Why This Year Felt Bigger Before It Even Started
The 2026 show arrived with real momentum. Conan O’Brien returned as host, the Academy rolled out the first-ever Oscar for Casting, and the nominations race had major online chatter thanks to films like Sinners, One Battle After Another, Frankenstein, Hamnet, and Marty Supreme. ABC also promoted a packed performance lineup, which added to the expectation that this would not be a quiet ceremony.
The Online Buzz Was Already Strong
The Academy’s own socials pushed the countdown hard in the final week, including an official Instagram post urging fans to watch live on March 15. That helped keep the event visible far beyond Hollywood media circles. The Academy’s official Instagram countdown post and The Academy’s official X account were both part of that final promo wave.
What Fans In India Should Watch For During The Stream
For Indian viewers, the fun is not only in the winners. It is in the flow of the show: opening monologue, red-carpet fashion, live music, presenter pairings, emotional speeches, and the now-standard social-media clipping race that starts before Best Supporting Actress is even done. ABC’s Oscars page has already been surfacing highlights, speeches, and red-carpet videos, which usually become the fastest way for late viewers to catch up. ABC Oscars highlights hub is the cleanest official follow-up page once the live stream moves on.
Where Fans Can Keep Following After The Ceremony
If you missed part of the live window, the safest bet is to follow the official updates first and then catch platform recaps. For India-specific access, JioHotstar remains the stream name most closely tied to local viewing chatter today. For global clips, speeches, and official wrap-up coverage, the Academy and ABC pages are the best places to watch the night unfold without rumor getting in the way.
FAQs
1. What time did Oscars 2026 start in India?
It started at 4:30 a.m. IST on March 16, 2026.
2. When did the red carpet begin in India?
Official red carpet coverage began around 4:00 a.m. IST for Indian viewers.
3. Where can people in India watch Oscars 2026?
Indian viewers have been tracking the stream today through JioHotstar coverage.
4. Who hosted the 2026 Oscars ceremony?
Conan O’Brien returned as Oscars host for the 98th Academy Awards ceremony.
5. What was new at the 2026 Oscars?
The Academy introduced the first-ever Oscar category for Casting this year.
