Showbiz

Oscars 2026: Stars, Security Heightened Amid Threats

The 98th Academy Awards will kick off tonight at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles at 7pm EST/4pm PST, as the world’s biggest movie stars descend on Hollywood to...

Oscars 2026: Stars, Security Heightened Amid Threats
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Bintano News

March 15, 2026

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The 98th will kick off tonight at the Dolby Theatre in at 7pm EST/4pm PST, as the world’s biggest movie stars descend on Hollywood to grace the red carpet.

Sinners is tipped to sweep the night with a record-breaking 16 nominations, closely followed by One Battle After Another, which sees Leonardo up for Best Actor.

Stars including , , , Delroy Lindo and will present some of the evening’s biggest awards including the coveted Best Picture.

Strict security measures have been put in place for the ceremony

While officials stressed they have no direct intelligence of a specific threat, precautions are being taken. The LAPD confirmed that around 1,000 private security officers will be on duty for the show.

Follow along for the latest updates... 

Security dogs walk the red carpet ahead of the Oscars

Several security dogs walked the red carpet ahead of tonight's award show, following officials' increased safety measures for the Oscars.

Security measures are being ramped up for this year's Academy Awards amid reports that Iran could be planning retaliatory strikes on California, although officials have stressed there are no confirmed threats.

The Los Angeles Police Department released a statement on Friday discussing the security preparation efforts.

'Our preparations include layered security perimeters, traffic management plans and a highly visible police presence throughout the Hollywood area,' the statement said.

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19:54

Awful Timothee Chalamet's ego is bigger than Kylie's inflated butt... but it's so clear what's really going on here. I pray he loses at the Oscars: CAROLINE BULLOCK

If desperate-to-win Timothee Chalamet misses out on the best actor Oscar tonight for Marty Supreme he can only blame it on his other recent performances – appearing as himself on every red carpet and envelope opening in Tinseltown.

Overexposed on the campaign trail with his unfathomable, pneumatic girlfriend Kylie Jenner, he's been hawking the 1950s ping-pong flick harder than a Meghan Markle jam launch.

The result? The once edgy thespian appears a cynical sell out - his golden boy brand tarnished by tacky stunts and sly disses that suggest an ego bigger than Kylie's long-rumored butt job.

19:45

Who is performing at the Oscars?

The stars of KPop Demon Hunters, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, the voices behind the fictional girl group HUNTR/X, will perform their hit song, Golden.

Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq are set to perform I Lied To You from Sinners and will be joined on stage by Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey and Alice Smith.

Additionally, Josh Groban and the Los Angeles Master Chorale are set to perform.

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Pictured: Audrey Nuna (left), Ejae (center) and Rei Ami (right)

15:18

Oscars bosses ramp up security for 2026 awards with bomb-sniffing dogs and drones amid reports of Iran retaliatory strikes

Security measures are being ramped up for the Oscars amid reports that Iran could be planning retaliatory strikes on California.

While officials stressed they do not have direct information about a threat, they are taking precautions ahead of Sunday's Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

The LAPD confirmed that around 1,000 private security officers will be on duty.

19:10

Furious fight erupts over Rob Reiner tribute at the Oscars as snubbed star is left searching for answers

With just days until the Oscars and preparations well underway, a feud has allegedly erupted over a planned tribute to Rob Reiner.

The event is set to take place next Sunday, March 15, and the Daily Mail has now learned that decisions over who should be involved in honoring Reiner, who was tragically killed in December, has sparked a divide.

A source has revealed that the Academy wants When Harry Met Sally stars Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, as well as Stand By Me actors Jerry O'Connell and Wil Wheaton to come together celebrate the late director.

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19:07

Legendary ballerina Misty Copeland confirms she'll be performing at the Oscars after saying Timothee Chalamet 'wouldn't be an actor' if it wasn't for 'opera and ballet'

Legendary ballerina Misty Copeland has revealed she'll be performing at this year's Oscars, after criticising nominee Timothee Chalamet over his comments that 'no one cares' about ballet or opera.

The dancer, 43, is set to join Sinners stars Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq for a live performance of the film's track I Lied to You on Sunday, while Timothee is expected to attend after landing a Best Actor nomination for Marty Supreme.

Timothee has sparked furious backlash after making the controversial remarks during an hour-long Variety/CNN Town Hall, where he said: 'I don't want to be working in ballet or opera. Things where it's like, "Hey, keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore".'

19:06

Vanity Fair Oscars Party set for major shake up to star-studded guest list this year

The infamous Oscars Vanity Fair party is set to look a lot different this year, according to the magazine's global editorial director, Mark Guiducci - and it seems as though organizers have tightened the reins.

The legendary bash, which was founded by former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter in 1994, always takes place after the big awards show, where Hollywood's finest celebrate their wins and commiserate their losses.

Guests in previous years have included Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos and wife Lauren Sanchez, Kim Kardashian, Julia Fox, 50 Cent, and even President Donald Trump.

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