How to watch Oscars 2021: Start time and live stream without cable

Oscars 2021 live stream: How to watch the 93rd Academy Awards without cable
(Image credit: Valerie Macon/Getty)
Oscars 2021 date, start time

The Oscars 2021 ceremony airs today, Sunday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. 
E! Live from the Red Carpet begins at 5 p.m. on E!

The Oscars 2021 live stream is on tonight, and it's going to cap off a truly unprecedented year for the film industry. The movie biz was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many big movie releases delayed for months or years, productions shut down and the entire theatrical experience usurped by streaming at home.

But this is Hollywood and the show must go on. Many great films still came out last year and received much deserved recognition from the Oscar nominations. This Sunday, the 93rd Academy Awards will bestow honors among the nominees for best performances, craft work and technical feats. The wide range of movies include the meditative road-tripping Nomadland to the graceful family tale Minari to the courtroom fireworks of The Trial of the Chicago 7.

The Oscars 2021 ceremony will be held largely in-person, located primarily at Union Station in Los Angeles, with additional events at the Dolby Theatre. And yes, there will be a red carpet, but unlike the glitzy events of the past. Attendance is restricted to the nominees, their guests and presenters — all of whom will go through multiple rounds of testing and a required quarantine period. 

As for the host, the Oscars won't have one for the third year in a row. 

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the Oscars 2021 live stream. Plus, we've got a full list of Oscars 2021 predictions (if you're stumped, that is).

How to watch Oscars 2021 live stream from anywhere on Earth

Just because ABC isn't available everywhere doesn't mean you need to miss the Oscars 2021 live stream if you're away from home. Watching along with the rest of the internet can be pretty easy. With the right VPN (virtual private network), you can stream the show from wherever you go.

Not sure which VPN is right for you? We've tested many different services and our pick for the best VPN overall is ExpressVPN. It offers superb speeds and excellent customer service.

ExpressVPN

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How to watch Oscars 2021 live stream in the US

Movie lovers (and celeb gawkers) can tune into 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. 

It will be preceded by the pre-show, "Into the Spotlight," at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT.

The broadcast network can be accessed with one of the best TV antennas or through a cable TV package.

If you've already cut the cord and don't have cable, you can watch ABC on a live TV service, like FuboTV, Hulu With Live TV, YouTube TV and AT&T TV Now.

Of these options, we recommend FuboTV, one of the best streaming services on the market. Its affordable Starter Plan comes with over 120 channels, including all the broadcast networks. 

Fubo.TV

<a href="https://geni.us/YkQAuWd" data-link-merchant="geni.us"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fubo.TV offers a 7-day free trial so you check out all of its features without paying upfront. Fubo's channel lineup includes local channels like ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox as well as top networks such as ESPN, AMC, Food Network, FX, MTV, Syfy and more.

How to watch Oscars 2021 live stream in the UK

Good news for British cinephiles. The Oscars 2021 live stream is airing on Sky Cinema's Oscars channel, which comes with a Sky TV package.

They'll need to stay up late, though —  the ceremony starts at 1 a.m. BST.

How to watch Oscars 2021 live stream in Canada

In the Great North, Canadians can watch the Oscars at the same time as their neighbors below. It's airing on CTV. 

How to watch Oscars 2021 live stream in Australia

Down Under, Aussies can watch the Oscars 2021 online for free on Channel 7 and on the 7plus app.

The event begins at 10 a.m. AEDT.

Oscars 2021 red carpet and pre-show

An Oscars pre-show, titled "In the Spotlight," will feature coverage of the red carpet and interviews with nominees.

It will also play pre-recorded performances of all five nominated Original Song nominees: "Fight for You" by H.E.R. (from "Judas and the Black Messiah)'; Speak Now" by Leslie Odom Jr (One Night in Miami); "Io sì (Seen)" by Laura Pausini and Diane Warren (The Life Ahead); "Hear My Voice" by Celeste and Daniel Pemberton (The Trial of the Chicago 7); and "Husavik" by Molly Sandén (from Eurovision Song Contest).

Oscars 2021 host and presenters

For the third year in a row, there is no Oscars host. Jimmy Kimmel was the last Oscars host, for the 90th Academy Awards.

The Academy has revealed some of the presenters who will introduce the categories open the envelopes and hand over the trophies. The luminaries include:

  • Angela Bassett
  • Bong Joon-Ho
  • Brad Pitt
  • Bryan Cranston
  • Don Cheadle
  • Halle Berry
  • Harrison Ford
  • Joaquin Phoenix
  • Laura Dern
  • Marlee Matlin
  • Reese Witherspoon
  • Regina King
  • Renée Zellweger
  • Rita Moreno
  • Zendaya

Oscars 2021 nominees

While this year's Oscars may be late and socially distanced, they're still celebrating excellent films. You can check out the full list of Oscar nominations (and find out where they're streaming).

The films up for the top prize, Best Picture, are:

  • The Father
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Mank
  • Minari
  • Nomadland
  • Promising Young Woman
  • Sound of Metal
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Director

  • xThomas Vinterberg, Another Round (Hulu)
  • David Fincher, Mank
  • Lee Isaac Chung, Minari
  • Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
  • Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

Best Actor in a Leading Role

  • Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal
  • Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
  • Anthony Hopkins, The Father
  • Gary Oldman, Mank
  • Steven Yeun, Minari

Best Actress in a Leading Role

  • Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu)
  • Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman (Netflix)
  • Frances McDormand, Nomadland
  • Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

Best Supporting Actor

  • Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7
  • Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Leslie Odom, Jr, One Night in Miami (Amazon Prime Video)
  • Paul Raci, Sound of Metal
  • Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

Best Supporting Actress

  • Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon Prime Video)
  • Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy (Netflix)
  • Olivia Colman, The Father
  • Amanda Seyfried, Mank
  • Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari

Best Adapted Screenplay

  • Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
    Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad
  • The Father
    Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller
  • Nomadland
    Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao
  • One Night in Miami
    Screenplay by Kemp Powers
  • The White Tiger (Netflix)
    Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani

Best Original Screenplay

  • Judas and the Black Messiah:
    Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
  • Minari
    Written by Lee Isaac Chung
  • Promising Young Woman
    Written by Emerald Fennell
  • Sound of Metal
    Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7
    Written by Aaron Sorkin

Best International Film

  • Another Round (Hulu)
    Denmark
  • Better Days (VOD)
    Hong Kong
  • Collective (VOD)
    Romania
  • The Man Who Sold His Skin (not available)
    Tunisia
  • Quo Vadis, Aida? (not available)
    Bosnia and Herzegovina

Best Animated Feature Film

Best Documentary Feature Film

Best Animated Short Film

  • Burrow
  • Genius Loci
  • If Anything Happens I Love You
  • Opera
  • Yes-People

Best Live Action Short Film

  • Feeling Through
  • The Letter Room
  • The Present
  • Two Distant Strangers
  • White Eye

Best Documentary Short Subject

  • Colette
  • A Concerto Is a Conversation
  • Do Not Split
  • Hunger Ward
  • A Love Song for Latasha

Best Cinematography

  • Judas and the Black Messiah
    Sean Bobbitt
  • Mank
    Erik Messerschmidt
  • News of the World (VOD)
    Dariusz Wolski
  • Nomadland
    Joshua James Richards
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7
    Phedon Papamichael

Best Film Editing

  • The Father
    Yorgos Lamprinos
  • Nomadland
    Chloé Zhao
  • Promising Young Woman
    Frédéric Thoraval
  • Sound of Metal
    Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7
    Alan Baumgarten

Best Production Design

Best Costume Design

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

  • Emma
  • Hillbilly Elegy
  • Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
  • Mank
  • Pinocchio

Best Original Score

  • Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
    Terence Blanchard
  • Mank
    Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
  • Minari
    Emile Mosseri
  • News of the World
    James Newton Howard
  • Soul
    Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste

Best Original Song

  • “Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah
    Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
  • “Hear My Voice” from The Trial of the Chicago 7
    Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
  • “Husavik” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix)
    Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson
  • “Io Sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se) (Netflix)
    Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
  • “Speak Now” from One Night in Miami
    Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth

Best Sound

Best Visual Effects

Kelly Woo
Streaming Editor

Kelly is the streaming channel editor for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.