Watching Oscars 2026 free is entirely achievable — and you don’t need to pay a monthly subscription to do it. The 98th Academy Awards air on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 7 p.m. EST / 4 p.m. PST, broadcast live from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on ABC in the United States. Whether you’re in the UK with a TV licence or in the US timing a free trial carefully, there are several legitimate paths to the ceremony that won’t cost you a penny on the night.
TL;DR: The 98th Oscars air March 15, 2026 on ABC in the US and free on ITV1/ITVX in the UK. US viewers can use free trials from YouTubeTV (21 days), FuboTV (7 days), DirecTV Stream (5 days), or Hulu + Live TV (3 days). VPNs like NordVPN unlock home-country services for viewers abroad.
Where to watch Oscars 2026 free in the UK
UK viewers have the simplest deal on the table. ITV1 carries the Oscars live, and ITVX streams it for free — both available at no extra cost to anyone holding a valid TV licence. No subscription, no free trial gymnastics, no credit card required. Just turn on the TV or open the app.
If you’re a UK licence holder currently outside the country — travelling, working abroad, or living overseas — a VPN lets you connect to a UK server and log into ITVX as normal. NordVPN is currently running a 70% off promotion and is one of the more widely used options for this purpose. Connect to a UK server before the stream starts, and the geo-restriction disappears.
How to watch Oscars 2026 free in the US using streaming trials
US viewers without cable can watch Oscars 2026 free by timing a streaming service trial to land on March 15. The longest trial available is YouTubeTV’s 21-day offer, which then moves to $82.99 per month — sign up a few weeks before the ceremony and you’re covered with days to spare. That’s the most generous window of the four main options.
FuboTV offers a 7-day free trial with a first-month price of $53.99 (rising to $86.99 per month after that), and its 200-channel lineup includes ABC. DirecTV Stream’s standard entertainment package comes with a 5-day free trial before moving to $89.99. Hulu + Live TV cuts it closest with just a 3-day trial before charging $89.99 per month — workable if you sign up on March 12 or 13, but there’s no room for error. AT&T TV also carries ABC for US subscribers. The key point with all of these: free trials are typically only available to new subscribers, so existing customers won’t qualify.
US viewers already on cable can simply watch on ABC directly, or stream via the ABC website or app using their cable provider login — no trial needed.
Can you watch Oscars 2026 free from outside the US or UK?
International viewers face a tougher situation, but VPNs provide a practical workaround. By connecting to a US server, you can access geo-restricted services like YouTubeTV or FuboTV as if you were in the United States, then use a free trial as described above. The same logic applies to UK expats using ITVX via a UK-based VPN server.
NordVPN is the highlighted option here, currently discounted by 70% according to TechRadar. Worth noting: VPN performance and streaming service enforcement of geo-blocks can vary, so connecting before the broadcast starts is the sensible move rather than scrambling at 7 p.m. EST.
Which free trial is actually worth it for the Oscars?
YouTubeTV’s 21-day free trial is the clear winner if you’re purely optimising for the Oscars. It gives you the longest runway, costs nothing if cancelled before the trial ends, and its $82.99 post-trial price is the lowest of the main contenders. FuboTV’s 7-day trial with a discounted first month at $53.99 is worth considering if you think you might keep the subscription — it’s the cheapest entry point of the group.
Hulu + Live TV’s 3-day trial is the riskiest play. Miss your cancellation window by a day and you’re charged $89.99. DirecTV Stream’s 5-day window is slightly more forgiving, but still requires calendar discipline. If you’re only in it for Oscar night, YouTubeTV is the obvious choice.
Is ITVX really free for the Oscars?
Yes — ITVX streams the Oscars live at no additional charge for UK TV licence holders. There’s no ITVX subscription required on top of the licence. It’s the cleanest free option available anywhere in the world for this event, and it requires zero credit card details or cancellation reminders.
Do I need a VPN to watch the Oscars abroad?
You don’t need a VPN if you’re in the UK or the US and have access to the relevant services. But if you’re a UK licence holder abroad or a US subscriber travelling internationally, a VPN is the practical solution for accessing your home-country stream. NordVPN is the option highlighted by TechRadar, currently at 70% off. Always connect to your home country’s server before opening the streaming app — some services detect VPN connections if you switch mid-session.
The 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026 are genuinely watchable for free, no matter where you are — it just takes a bit of planning. UK viewers have it easiest with ITV1 and ITVX. US viewers should start their YouTubeTV trial well in advance. Everyone else has VPNs and careful trial timing as their tools. Set a cancellation reminder the moment you sign up for any trial, and Oscar night won’t cost you a thing.
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: TechRadar
