How To Watch The 2025 Oscars For Free

Movie fans, it’s time to make your final predictions on who will soon become an Academy Award-winner as the 2025 Oscars are nearly here. 

The 97th Academy Awards, which will continue the tradition of being held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, will air live on Sunday, March 2.

Cinema’s biggest night, celebrating the best films of the past year, will bring together some of the most acclaimed actors, directors and more creatives. 

Actor Adrien Brody, who previously won a best actor Oscar for his performance in the 2002 film “The Pianist,” is up for the honor again for his role in “The Brutalist.” He is competing against Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”), Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”) and Sebastian Stan (“The Apprentice”). In the best actress category, Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”), Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Pérez”), Mikey Madison (“Anora”), Demi Moore (“The Substance”) and Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”) are all looking to snag their first Academy Awards. 

As for the best picture of the year? Practically every film genre is represented, between “Anora,” “The Brutalist,” “A Complete Unknown,” “Conclave,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Emilia Pérez,” “I’m Still Here,” “Nickel Boys,” “The Substance” and “Wicked” all landing nominations in the prestigious category. (See the full list of nominees here.) 

In between the awards being handed out and emotional speeches being read, viewers will also be treated to special musical performances throughout the evening.  About a week before the show, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed in a press release that Doja Cat, LISA of Blackpink, Queen Latifah, Raye and nominees Erivo and Ariana Grande will take the stage and perform. 

Want to make sure you won’t miss a moment of the 2025 Oscars? Read on to find out everything you need to know about the 97th Academy Awards, including how to tune in. 

What day are the 2025 Oscars?

The Oscars unfold on Sunday, March 2.

When does the 2025 Oscars start?

The 2025 Oscars begin at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

How long are the Oscars?

The awards ceremony is expected to run about three-and-a-half hours. 

How to watch and stream the 2025 Oscars

You can watch the 97th Academy Awards on ABC or stream it live on Hulu. Those who have a TV provider can watch on ABC.com and the ABC APP, too.

The show will also be available to stream on other services, like Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV, many of which offer a free trial.

For international viewers, the 2025 Oscars will be broadcast in more than 200 territories around the world. Check here to see if the show will be available in your country. 

How to watch the Oscars red carpet pre-show

Oscars coverage begins hours before the ceremony with red carpet pre-shows.

The official pre-show, “On The Red Carpet at the Oscars,” will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. and continue until 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

The special will be hosted by reporters Linsey Davis, Whit Johnson, Chris Connelly, George Pennacchio and Clayton Davis. 

Next, the “Oscars Red Carpet Show” will take over at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, leading into the ceremony. Fans will get to witness all the dazzling red carpet arrivals as co-hosts Julianne Hough and Jesse Palmer interview the nominees and presenters. 

The first pre-show will be available to watch on ABC and ABC News Live, the network’s streaming news channel. Hough and Palmer’s red carpet arrivals show will be broadcast on ABC, as well. 

Over on E!, coverage of the Oscars kicks off at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT with “E! Countdown to the Red Carpet.” Red carpet coverage starts at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT through the start of the Oscars.Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the 2025 Oscars are broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood in Los Angeles at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The official red carpet show will start at 6:30 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. The 2025 Oscars are available to watch on ABC and stream live on Hulu.

Among the most-nominated films are “Emilia Pérez” with 13 nominations and “Wicked” with 10. The list of performers include Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Queen Latifah, Raye and Doja Cat, among others. The ceremony will also feature a special appearance by the Los Angeles Master Chorale. 

Follow TODAY.com’s live blog for complete Oscars coverage, including this year’s winners and unexpected moments.