Hollywood’s biggest night—the 97th Academy Awards—is set to dazzle audiences worldwide on Sunday, 2 March at 7 PM EST (Monday, 3 March at 12 AM GMT), live from the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Hosted by the legendary Conan O'Brien, the night promises jaw-dropping wins, glamorous red carpet moments, and a touch of unexpected surprises.
Meanwhile, many predictions have been swirling around on who would win some of the night’s biggest award categories. Here are some of the most popular win predictions:
Best Picture: Anora…or Conclave?
The frontrunner for Best Picture is Anora, Sean Baker’s beautifully crafted masterpiece about a young sex worker from Brooklyn who impulsively marries the son of an oligarch—only to find her fairytale threatened once the news reaches Russia. However, Conclave is a strong contender, with its gripping story about a Cardinal tasked with selecting a new Pope. Could we be in for an upset?
Best Director: Battle of geniuses
Sean Baker (Anora) is the name on everyone’s lips, and it looks like the Academy may reward his directorial brilliance. But with Hollywood veteran David Fincher (The Killer) also in the mix, could we see an unexpected win?
Best Actor: A historic showdown
Adrien Brody (The Brutalist) is the current favourite, but Timothée Chalamet’s stunning transformation into Bob Dylan (A Complete Unknown) could steal the spotlight. With Chalamet’s recent intense Oscars campaign, could this finally be his year?
Best Actress: A hot competition
Demi Moore (The Substance) has delivered a career-defining performance, making her the frontrunner. However, rising star Mikey Madison (Anora) could be a strong dark horse in the race.
Best Supporting Actor & Actress: Who will shine?
Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) is the favourite for Best Supporting Actor, following his well-deserved Golden Globe win. Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) seems poised to take Best Supporting Actress, but Isabella Rossellini’s powerhouse performance may surprise us all.
Best Animated Feature: The unexpected favourite
While Inside Out 2 is expected to dominate, Flow and Wild Robots might prove to be tough competitors.
Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande (Wicked), Doja Cat, Lisa (BLACKPINK), Queen Latifah, and Raye are set to deliver unforgettable musical performances throughout the night.
The Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC and available for streaming on Hulu, Disney+ (internationally), and live TV platforms such as Sling, Fubo, Roku, and YouTube TV. Red carpet coverage begins at 3:30 PM ET on OnTheRedCarpet.com, YouTube, and Facebook.
Who will take home the gold statuettes? We’ll find out in the next few hours!—stay tuned!