The Oscars’ In Memoriam segment is Hollywood’s annual pause button, where glitz and glamour give way to tears and reflection. Flickering images of legends such as Audrey Hepburn and Sean Connery evoke cinematic memories, turning collective mourning into a strangely cathartic celebration. 

This year, Oscars 2026 will extend the segment, honoring the numerous iconic stars the industry lost recently.

Oscars producers Amy Mullan and Sanjay Kapoor have confirmed to Variety that the 2026 In Memoriam segment will be extended, honoring the extraordinary number of cinematic legends lost in the past year. The segment usually goes on for 3 to 5 minutes, meaning that it will be longer than that. Stars like Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and Diane Ladd will receive more time to breathe, reflecting the deep respect behind the montage.

“We have had an incredibly tough year of losses,” Matthew Mullan said. He noted that the year claimed countless cinematic giants, leaving only their legacies, and paying tribute to them has been a central focus for the Academy.

“We do not take it lightly,” Ravi Kapoor explains. Every name, every frame, and every placement is deliberate. Who follows whom and how the beats land matters. The team works to ensure that viewers can pause, reflect, and feel the weight of these final cinematic farewells.

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Following the late Hulk Hogan’s ex-wife’s dig at the Emmys, the Oscars are doubling down on respect, expanding their In Memoriam to honor cinema legends properly and avoid past mistakes.

The Oscars will honor a constellation of departed stars. Robert Redford, Oscar-winning director and actor, will be celebrated with a rumored Barbra Streisand performance. Diane Keaton, immortal in Annie Hall and The Godfather, will be remembered for her brilliance and enduring influence on the silver screen.

Rob Reiner, the mind behind When Harry Met Sally... and The Princess Bride, will be tributed, with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan likely reuniting on stage. Robert Duvall, yet another legend of The Godfather and Tender Mercies, will also be honored, a cinematic titan whose work will echo long after his passing.

Comedy icons and dramatic talents will also be remembered. Catherine O'Hara, star of Schitt's Creek, James Van Der Beek of Dawson's Creek and Varsity Blues, and Eric Dane of Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria will all be honored for their unforgettable work and lasting impact on audiences.

Other luminaries to be remembered include Brigitte Bardot, Diane Ladd, horror icon Tom Noonan, and musician Bob Weir. Josh Groban and the Los Angeles Master Chorale are confirmed for live accompaniment, promising a tribute that is as solemn as it is memorable, honoring cinema’s indelible icons.

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Are you looking forward to this year's Oscar In Memoriam segment? Let us know in the comments!