How to watch the Oscars free: Stream the 97th Academy Awards anywhere
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UPDATE: The 97th Academy Awards have concluded and are now available to stream on-demand through most of the streaming services we've outlined below. We recommend catching up on the ceremony sooner rather than later since some of the on-demand offerings are for a limited time only. The original article follows:
The Academy Awards kick off in just a few hours, with Conan O'Brien serving as host for the first time. We've compiled everything you need to know about how to watch the Oscars free, including global streaming options and a roundup of some of the nominees, presenters, and performers.
Hollywood congregates tonight for the 97th Academy Awards, highlighting the best films, performers, and creators from the last year. As always, one of the most notable categories of the night is Best Picture. The race is especially tight tonight since multiple films have nabbed important awards leading up to the Oscars, with "Anora," "The Brutalist," "Conclave," and "Emilia Pérez" winning big at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and BAFTAs.
Among other notable races is Best Actor. Adrien Brody ("The Brutalist") has largely swept this awards season, but a Timothée Chalamet ("A Complete Unknown") win at the SAG Awards last weekend — the final major stop on the awards juggernaut before the Oscars — has opened up questions about a potential Chalamet upset. Of course, part of the allure of the live telecast of the Oscars is that none of the major predictions could come true, and it's anyone's game until the envelope is opened.
Keep reading to learn how to watch the 97th Academy Awards. Plus, we'll show you how to use a VPN so that you can watch from anywhere. And if you're hoping to watch some of the films you see tonight, check out our guide to where to watch every 2025 Oscars best picture nominee.
How to watch the Oscars in the US
The Oscars will air on ABC in the US, kicking off at 7 p.m. ET. The network will air live red carpet coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. and a lengthy pre-red carpet show earlier in the day. For cord-cutters, ABC typically requires a live TV streaming package (which we'll dig into below), but for the first time ever, the ceremony will also be simulcast on regular Hulu. Subscriptions start at $10/month and come with a 30-day free trial.
If you'd rather watch through a service that carries ABC live streams (so you can watch the network beyond tonight), a live TV streaming package like Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, or Fubo will be the way to go. Sling is the cheapest of the bunch, with Sling TV Blue plans starting at $46/month and offering 40+ popular channels, although ABC varies by region so you should check to make sure it's available in your area before subscribing. New users can get half-off their first month of service.
If you're looking for something closer to cable, DirecTV Stream and Fubo carry anywhere from 90 to 200+ live channels, depending on which tier you sign up for. DirecTV Stream's Entertainment plan starts at $87/month and comes with a five-day free trial, while Fubo's Essential plan starts at $85/month and comes with a seven-day free trial.
How to watch the Oscars in the UK
The Oscars will air on ITV1 in the UK, kicking off at midnight on early Monday. The ceremony will live stream for free on ITVX, which only requires account creation to use.
How to watch the Oscars in Australia
The Oscars will air on Seven in Australia. The ceremony will be available to live stream on 7Plus, a free streaming service that only requires account creation to use.
How to watch the Oscars from anywhere
If you're outside Australia or the UK right now, you can still keep up with the free streaming options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that enable people to change their virtual location. They're especially popular among those hoping to upgrade their online security and access their go-to websites and apps while traveling abroad. ExpressVPN is one of the top options on the market, with a 30-day money-back guarantee and tons of other security-enhancing assets, which we outline in our ExpressVPN review.
How to watch the Oscars with a VPN
- Sign up for a VPN if you don't have one.
- Install it on the device you're using to watch.
- Turn it on and set it to the location of your streaming service.
- Go to ITVX (UK) or 7Plus (Australia) and create an account if you don't already have one.
- Enjoy the Oscars.
Who is presenting at the Oscars?
As usual, the Academy Award presenter lineup is nearly as impressive as its nominees (and some nominees, like Zoe Saldaña, are even pulling double duty). In addition to host Conan O'Brien, presenters include Joe Alwyn, Robert Downey Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Goldie Hawn, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Cillian Murphy, Amy Poehler, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, June Squibb, Ben Stiller, Emma Stone, Oprah Winfrey, and Bowen Yang, among others.
Which films are nominated for Best Picture?
This year's Best Picture nominees range from a beloved musical adaptation to an epic sci-fi sequel to a Bob Dylan biopic. Check out the full list of all 10 nominees below:
- Anora
- The Brutalist
- A Complete Unknown
- Conclave
- Dune: Part Two
- Emilia Pérez
- I'm Still Here
- Nickel Boys
- The Substance
- Wicked
Who is performing at the Oscars?
In a shake-up from the norm, best song nominees won't be performing at this year's Academy Awards ceremony. However, that doesn't mean that the evening will be without music. "Wicked" stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are scheduled to perform, although exact details about their collaboration haven't been revealed. Doja Cat, Raye, Lisa of Black Pink, and Queen Latifah have also been announced as performers through the Academy's official Instagram account.
Where do the Oscars take place?
The 97th Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The Oscars have been held at the venue every year since 2002, with the exception of the 2021 Academy Awards, which were held in a different seating format at Union Station in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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