Oscars latest: Who should win – and what’s inside nominees’ unofficial £260k goodie bags
Oscars Sunday: Hollywood’s Stars Set for Red Carpet Debut
As the big day approaches, Hollywood’s elite will gather at the Dolby Theatre for the annual film awards ceremony. Celebrities such as Jessie Buckley, Michael B. Jordan, Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emma Stone are expected to make appearances. Sky News is live in Los Angeles, providing coverage of the event as it unfolds.
Streaming Shift: Oscars to Move to YouTube in 2029
Starting in 2029, the Oscars will undergo a significant transformation. The ceremony, marking its 101st edition, will transition from its longtime home on ABC to a live broadcast on YouTube. This change will allow the event to reach the platform’s vast global audience of two billion viewers at no cost.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the partnership with YouTube at the end of 2028. Under the agreement, the streaming giant will hold exclusive rights to the awards show, including the iconic red carpet segment and the Governors Ball afterparty, for five years.
“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round academy programming,” said Academy chief executive Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor.
A Legacy on ABC: The Oscars’ Historic Broadcast
Last year’s Academy Awards drew 19.7 million viewers on ABC, a record for the past five years but still far below the all-time high of 57 million in 1998. The network has served as the Oscars’ primary broadcaster for nearly its entire history, with NBC briefly taking over from 1971 to 1975.
Despite the upcoming shift, ABC will close its chapter with a final broadcast for the 100th anniversary of the event. The Sky News team is preparing for the day, with their on-camera correspondent, Katie Spencer, undergoing professional grooming at the hotel before heading to their respective posts.
Behind the Glamour: Stylists Ready for the Red Carpet
As the Oscars draw near, the behind-the-scenes team is in full motion. Hair stylist Melissa and make-up artist Naisha are meticulously crafting looks for the evening’s attendees. Melissa, who has styled Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande in the past, is currently working on five people, with Katie Spencer being her first client.
“I consult about what they’re wearing, what kind of style they want, and then we both come to an image together,” Melissa explains. “For Katie, we’re going old school Hollywood with waves.”
Naisha, a make-up artist with nearly a decade of experience, notes that awards weekends are consistently hectic. She began her workday at 7am, preparing Katie as her fourth client of the day.
“I love doing red carpet looks,” Naisha says. “I’m thinking a brown, smoky eye for Katie. I don’t like to do black because I feel like it’s too heavy and it’s still light out.”
Predictions from Gold Derby: A Unique Awards Season
Gold Derby, a well-established LA-based organization, has been analyzing entertainment events for over 25 years. Their Oscar forecasts are based on insights from industry insiders, critics, and fans. Editor-in-chief Debra Birnbaum shares her current expectations:
“Usually, it gets kind of boring by this point,” Birnbaum admits. “We’ve seen the same faces and speeches, but this year feels different. The only person I’m confident about is Jessie Buckley.”
Birnbaum highlights an unprecedented awards season, with no clear frontrunners. Buckley’s 96.97% chance of winning stems from her dominance across precursor awards, including the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Critics’ Choice, and Actor Awards. This feat has not been repeated since Russell Crowe’s 2002 victory, where he took home the Oscar despite being a favorite in earlier events.