An Insider's View of the 2026 Oscars: Beyond the Red Carpet
The journey to the 2026 Academy Awards begins long before arriving in Los Angeles. At Heathrow Airport, a chance encounter with A Different Man star Adam Pearson checking in for the same flight sets the tone for a weekend immersed in celebrity culture. Eleven hours later, standing in the inevitable passport control queue at LAX, I find myself just behind musician Nick Cave and his wife Susie, complete with a Valentino garment bag. Even business class privileges cannot shield anyone from the great equalizer that is U.S. customs.
The Hollywood Setting: A Shopping Mall Disguised as a Theater
Upon checking into a Hollywood hotel, the signs of showbiz's biggest night are everywhere, from literal billboards to rooftop parties buzzing with excitement. Walking the sidewalks of Sunset, Hollywood, and Highland on Saturday to collect credentials, the atmosphere around the Dolby Theatre feels intensely official. This venue has hosted every Academy Awards ceremony since 2002, standing opposite the iconic Grauman's Chinese Theatre with its famous stone handprints.
What many forget amid the glitz and glamour is that the Oscars actually take place within a shopping center, complete with a Walgreens and a Victoria's Secret. However, meticulous decoration transforms the space with cream drapes, giant Oscar statuettes, and expansive red carpets. A security guard reveals this transformation requires a week and a half of effort, making it nearly impossible to recognize the mall beneath the spectacle.
Behind the Scenes: Preparation and Local Perspectives
On the ground, visitors are directed through the mall's backstage corridors to navigate barriers and access Hollywood Boulevard, inevitably passing the red carpet and the Dolby Theatre's doors, which lead to 3,400 seats. With less than 24 hours until the ceremony, preparation is in full swing, with no detail too small. Later, a team of three will adjust the placement of giant Oscar statues outside the theater by mere inches.
While excitement is palpable among tourists and some locals, others express frustration. Jason, who works at a souvenir shop on the same block, shares, "We're closed one time a year, you know which day? March 15th – we're open on Christmas and every other day, but they shut down the street for the Oscars. It doesn't help business; it hurts business." He admits to being unfamiliar with this year's nominated films, adding, "In the past, I would know all the films that were nominated. I am so far removed from that."
Local Buzz and Security Concerns
Locals mention rooting for films like Sinners, Frankenstein, and Marty Supreme, with support for Sean Penn's performance as a villain in One Battle After Another. Staff at a nearby cinema reveal an Oscars-themed raffle, including a bonus prize for accurately predicting the show's duration. Shopworker Jose, a 10-year Hollywood resident, has only seen KPop Demon Hunters among the nominees, noting, "The music was kind of catchy and the animation was pretty good actually."
Despite an FBI warning about potential Iranian drone attacks, there is little awareness or fear among attendees. Art director and long-term resident Oz Powers, who worked with James Cameron on Avatar, states, "I don't ever live my life being afraid of anything. I came from a place where I was bullied all the time as a kid, so that kind of energy... I don't think about that side of things." He hasn't noticed increased security this year, as it's "always pretty tight," and urges the world not to give up on America, emphasizing that most people are "as freaked out as you guys are about the craziness – and it will pass."
Full List of 2026 Oscar Nominations
Best Picture: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, Train Dreams
Best Director: Chloe Zhao - Hamnet, Josh Safdie - Marty Supreme, Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another, Joachim Trier - Sentimental Value, Ryan Coogler - Sinners
Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet - Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio - One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke - Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan - Sinners, Wagner Moura - The Secret Agent
Best Actress: Jessie Buckley - Hamnet, Rose Byrne - If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, Kate Hudson - Song Sung Blue, Renate Reinsve - Sentimental Value, Emma Stone - Bugonia
Best Supporting Actor: Benicio del Toro - One Battle After Another, Jacob Elordi - Frankenstein, Delroy Lindo - Sinners, Sean Penn - One Battle After Another, Stellan Skarsgard - Sentimental Value
Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning - Sentimental Value, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas - Sentimental Value, Amy Madigan - Weapons, Wunmi Mosaku - Sinners, Teyana Taylor - One Battle After Another
Other Key Categories: Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Animated Film, International Feature, Documentary, Casting, Cinematography, Costume Design, Editing, Makeup and Hair, Production Design, Original Score, Song, Sound, Visual Effects, Documentary Short, Animated Short, Live-Action Short.
