The Oscars 2026 are practically here. The velvet ropes are being steamed, the diamonds are being insured, and somewhere in Los Angeles, stylists are whispering last-minute prayers over couture. The red carpet is ready to unfurl like a silk scroll, and fans are counting down to see their favorites. The Academy Awards have always been equal parts cinema and spectacle. But this year, amid the glamour and the glitz, one practical question hums beneath the flashbulbs: where exactly can viewers catch Hollywood’s biggest night?

So the natural question arises: Is it free? Is it on YouTube? Can you simply open an app and step onto the red carpet from your couch?

Despite swirling curiosity, the Oscars will not stream live on YouTube for free in 2026. That shift is coming, but not until 2029. For now, the ceremony remains rooted in its traditional broadcast home: ABC, with streaming available via Hulu. In the United States, viewers can watch the Oscars live on ABC, which is included in most cable packages and also accessible through live TV streaming bundles. For cord-cutters, Hulu offers a path in. 

Until 2029, that is the official digital front row seat. After that? The curtain rises on something bigger. Beginning with the 101st Academy Awards in 2029, YouTube will reportedly broadcast the Oscars live through at least 2033. Subscribers will stream Hollywood’s biggest night for free, including additional Academy ceremonies such as the Honorary Oscars presentations. 

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Before that landmark edition, the Oscars will continue along their established broadcast model. But the 2029 migration signals a new era for film lovers worldwide, especially those who have long navigated regional restrictions and limited digital access.

The collaboration promises far more than a simple livestream. YouTube is expected to hold exclusive rights to the main Oscars ceremony, the red carpet, the Governors Ball, backstage content, the Nominees Luncheon, the Scientific and Technical Awards, and the Student Academy Awards, all free to access globally.

Beyond that, audiences will gain open access to Academy member interviews, filmmaker conversations, educational programs, and podcasts. Google Arts & Culture will digitally extend the celebration through access to Academy Museum exhibitions and a sweeping effort to digitize the Academy Collection, home to over 52 million film-related artifacts. 

Until 2029, viewers will tune in the traditional way. After that, the world’s most prestigious film night steps into a truly global, free-access spotlight.

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Will YouTube democratize the Oscars or dilute the mystique? Share your thoughts in the comments.