The 98th Academy Awards are set to make history with two major musical performances that celebrate the year’s biggest films. The KPop Demon Hunters trio — EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — will take the stage to perform their Oscar-nominated song “Golden,” while a star-studded ensemble will honor the record-breaking film Sinners with a performance of “I Lied to You” . The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, airs live on Sunday, March 15, 2026, from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood .
KPop Demon Hunters Bring K-Pop to the Oscars Stage
For the first time in Academy Awards history, the voices behind a hit K-pop animated film will perform live at the ceremony. EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — the singing talents behind the fictional girl group HUNTR/X in Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters — will perform “Golden,” which is nominated for Best Original Song .
The performance promises to be a visual and cultural spectacle. According to executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, the segment will open with “a fusion of traditional Korean instrumentalists and dance, celebrating the folklore and cultural inspiration that anchors the story” of the animated blockbuster . This blend of traditional and contemporary elements reflects the film’s core themes, which center on a K-pop girl group defending the human world from demons while drawing on Korean mythology .
KPop Demon Hunters has become a genuine global phenomenon. The film is not only nominated for Best Original Song but also for Best Animated Feature, competing against Zootopia 2, Arco, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain and Elio . Earlier this awards season, it won both the Golden Globe for Best Animated Film and Best Original Song . At last month’s Grammy Awards, “Golden” made history as the first K-pop genre work to win in its category . The film’s producer, Michelle Wong, also took home the Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Animated Motion Picture, further cementing its awards-season momentum .
The Academy’s official social media channels have already started building excitement, posting on X: “HUNTR/X fans, light up your glow sticks” . The song “Golden” has dominated global charts, including Billboard, and the film became Netflix’s most-watched animated film of all time, surpassing even Squid Game in viewership .
Sinners Takes Center Stage with All-Star Musical Tribute
The Ryan Coogler-directed horror film Sinners will receive an extended tribute during the ceremony, featuring a performance of its Oscar-nominated original song “I Lied to You” . Miles Caton, who stars in the film as Sammie, will perform alongside acclaimed musician and songwriter Raphael Saadiq .
The performance expands into a sweeping homage to the film’s unique visual and musical style. Joining Caton and Saadiq on stage will be an extraordinary lineup of talent: ballet dancer Misty Copeland, guitarists Eric Gales and Buddy Guy, vocalist Brittany Howard, blues musician Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, actors Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li, blues legend Bobby Rush, singer-songwriter Shaboozey and vocalist Alice Smith .
The Sinners segment “explores the role music plays in the film’s storytelling and translates this into a cinematic live moment on the Oscars stage,” according to the producers’ statement . The Warner Bros. film follows twin brothers, both played by Michael B. Jordan, who open a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi only to encounter a community of vampires — a supernatural threat that serves as an allegory for segregation and racism .
Record-Breaking Nominations for Sinners
Sinners has already secured its place in Oscars history. When nominations were announced on January 22, 2026, the film received 16 nominations — the most of any film in Academy Awards history, surpassing the previous record of 14 held by All About Eve, Titanic and La La Land .
The film’s nominations include Best Picture, Best Director for Ryan Coogler, Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku, Best Supporting Actor for Delroy Lindo, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson, Best Original Song for “I Lied to You,” and numerous craft categories including Production Design, Costume Design, Sound, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Visual Effects .
Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s cinematography nomination is particularly notable — if she wins, she will become the first woman to ever take home the Oscar for Best Cinematography . The film also earned a nomination in the newly introduced Achievement in Casting category, recognizing Francine Maisler’s work .
Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios and producer of Black Panther, has publicly thrown his support behind the film, stating: “The music resonated deeply with me, and I told Ryan that I was utterly amazed. It should take home best picture for that reason alone” .
Only Two Nominated Songs to Be Performed
In a break from recent tradition, this year’s ceremony will feature live performances of only the two nominated songs from these cultural phenomena . The other Best Original Song nominees — “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams, and “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi! — will not be performed live during the broadcast .
Producers Kapoor and Mullan explained their vision in a joint statement: “This year, our music performances are inspired by two of the most powerful cultural phenomena in film: Sinners, the most nominated film in Oscars history, and KPop Demon Hunters, a global pop culture sensation. These show moments are more than just performances — they expand into cinematic tributes that celebrate the relationship between music and storytelling and why these films resonated so deeply with audiences around the world” .
The show will also include appearances by Grammy-winning singer Josh Groban and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, with additional talent announcements expected before Sunday’s ceremony.
Also Read:
Ceremony Details and Viewing Information
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood . The ceremony will be televised live on ABC and stream live on Hulu beginning at 7 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. PDT, with the official live red carpet show airing at 6:30 p.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. PDT . The broadcast will reach viewers in more than 200 territories worldwide .
Conan O’Brien returns as host for his second consecutive year, following widespread praise for his hosting performance at the 97th Academy Awards . His signature wit and engaging stage presence are expected to guide the evening’s celebrations.
Final voting for the Oscars ran from February 26 to March 5, 2026, setting the stage for what promises to be a memorable awards night . With Sinners seeking to convert its record-breaking 16 nominations into multiple wins and KPop Demon Hunters looking to continue its historic awards run, Sunday’s ceremony will likely be one for the history books.
Also Read: Dark Winds Season 4 Episode 5 Release Date and Time Confirmed
Stay with VvipTimes for complete live coverage and winner updates from the 98th Academy Awards ceremony this Sunday.
