Where to Watch the Oscars Online for Free in 2025

Posted on Feb 19, 2025 by Ginny Dorn

It’s time to let your inner film buff shine! The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, will return for the 97th time on March 2, 2025. Whether you want to cheer on your favorite films, see who takes home the Best Picture award, or simply enjoy the fashion, it’s a must-watch event each year. 

To catch all the drama as it happens, you’ll want to watch the show live. We’ve got the lowdown on where the Oscar awards are live streaming for free and how to watch online from around the world. If you’re worried you might miss out, PIA VPN can help you catch every moment of the prestigious ceremony. 


How to Watch the Oscars with PIA VPN 

Use PIA VPN to bypass network restrictions and enjoy the biggest night in film.

  1. Download PIA VPN. It’s quick and easy to set up.
  2. Connect to a server where your streaming service is available.
  3. Watch the Oscars and see who wins the biggest awards of the night!

Where to Watch the Oscars Online for Free

You can watch the Oscars live stream for free in various countries. Here are the streaming platforms showing the event:

ABC: Americans can watch ABC’s coverage on Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV, Fubo, or YouTube TV. These are paid services, but each offers a free trial for new subscribers.

ITVX: ITV will broadcast the ceremony live on ITVX. UK residents can set up a free account to watch the Oscars live stream online.

RTE Player: If you’re in Ireland, the Oscar Awards are live streaming for free on RTE Player.

7plus: Fans in Australia can catch the Oscars live as it airs on 7plus.

CTV: Canadian fans can watch coverage on the CTV app. Just download the app to your smartphone, tablet, or connected TV and log in to access the Oscars live stream.

Joyn: Stream the awards show live and for free in Germany on Joyn, ProSieben’s streaming platform.

How to Watch the Oscars Online

Where to Watch the Oscars in the US

Hulu

You can stream the Oscars live on Hulu with any subscription tier. This is the first time the show will be available for live streaming in the US. If you don’t have Hulu, the platform regularly offers a free trial, which you can take advantage of to watch the show for free. To sign up, you’ll need to provide your US postcode and payment information.

ABC

ABC is the official network partner to the Oscars. You can watch the ABC Oscars live stream on ABC’s website, though you’ll need to provide cable login credentials to access it. 

You can also access ABC on the following live TV streaming services: Hulu+ Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, and DirecTV. If you don’t have any of these services, each offers a free trial for new subscribers.

Where to Watch the Oscars Live Stream in the UK

ITV will broadcast the Oscars in the UK. You can watch it online for free on ITVX. You’ll need to create an account and provide your UK postcode (e.g. SW1W 0NY) to access the show. If you want to watch live, tune in at midnight on March 3.

Where to Watch the Oscars in Ireland

The Oscars will be live streaming online via RTE Player at midnight on March 3 in Ireland. The service is free, and you can stream without needing an account.

Where to Watch the Oscars Live Stream in Germany

German network ProSieben will broadcast the Oscars on TV, and you can use its streaming platform Joyn to watch the ceremony online. The service is free to use, but you’ll need to create an account to watch the live stream. Coverage on Joyn coverage kicks off at 10.30 pm on March 2, so you can watch celebrities walk the red carpet before the awards begin at 1 a.m. on March 3.

Disney Plus is also live streaming the Oscars for the first time. Coverage starts at 1 a.m. on March 3 and is available in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Where to Watch the Oscars Live Stream in Australia

Seven Network has broadcast rights in Australia, which means you can either watch on Channel 7 or catch the Oscars live stream online for free on 7plus. To stream the show, you’ll need to create an account and provide an Australian postcode (e.g. 2599 or 0800). It kicks off at 11:00 a.m. AEDT on Monday, March 3.

Where to Watch the Oscars in New Zealand

You might be able to watch the Oscars on Disney Plus in New Zealand. Though it has yet to be announced, the platform offered a live stream of the ceremony last year to Kiwi film fans.

Where to Watch the Oscars Live Stream in Canada

CTV is live streaming the show in Canada. You can log in on CTV.ca with your TV provider account or download the CTV app to watch the Oscars awards ceremony live stream on your mobile device or connected TV. 

Where to Watch the Oscars Live Stream in India

The 97th Academy Awards will likely be live streamed on Disney+ Hotstar for film fans in India. The ceremony will begin at 5:30 a.m. IST on March 3. 

Why PIA Is the Best VPN for Watching the Oscars

Whether you’re a dedicated cinephile or just love pop culture, PIA VPN can ensure you don’t miss a moment of the action at the Academy Awards. Connect to one of our VPN servers to bypass network restrictions that might keep you from tuning in at work, school, or other public locations, and unblock streaming sites.

You can also connect to a VPN server in your home country to stream the show on your usual platform when traveling abroad. Just remember to take account of time zone differences! PIA VPN has a global network of servers in 91 countries, so you’ll find a server wherever you need it. 

PIA’s 10-Gbps network includes streaming-optimized servers that work with popular platforms like Hulu, ITVX, RTE Player, 7Plus, and Disney Plus. The IP addresses on these servers are regularly updated to ensure you get fast, lag-free, and reliable access to your favorite streaming services. You also get unlimited bandwidth, so you don’t have to worry about your live stream stalling just as they’re about to announce a winner.

Download PIA’s native app for popular devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Android, and iOS. Getting set up is easy, but if you have any questions, our 24/7 support team is here to help. 

Try PIA VPN for yourself, risk-free, with our 30-day money-back guarantee.

When Are the Oscars 2025?

The 97th annual Academy Awards will take place on March 2, 2025, at 7 p.m. EST. Hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, the ceremony will be broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. On some streaming services, you can tune in earlier to catch the red carpet coverage before the show starts.

2025 Oscar Award Nominations

The Oscars are deemed the biggest night in Hollywood for good reason. This year is no exception, with tight competition in all categories. Cynthia Erivo’s nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role makes her the first Black British woman to receive two acting nominations, but Demi Moore is tipped to win the golden statue for her performance in The Substance.

Anora is leading the pack in the Best Picture category after winning awards at the Critics Choice, Producers Guild of America, and Directors Guild of America Awards. Adrien Brody and Timothée Chalamet seem to be battling it out for the Best Actor in a Leading Role award. Nothing is guaranteed, though, and we know from experience that the Oscars always throws up a few surprises.

Here is the complete list of 2025 Oscars nominations:

Actor in a Leading Role

  • Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
  • Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
  • Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
  • Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
  • Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice

Actor in a Supporting Role

  • Yura Borisov – Anora
  • Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
  • Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
  • Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
  • Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice

Actress in a Leading Role

  • Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
  • Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
  • Mikey Madison – Anora
  • Demi Moore – The Substance
  • Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here

Actress in a Supporting Role

  • Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
  • Ariana Grande – Wicked
  • Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
  • Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
  • Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Pérez

Animated Feature Film

  • Flow – Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman
  • Inside Out 2 – Kelsey Mann and Mark Nielsen
  • Memoir of a Snail – Adam Elliot and Liz Kearney
  • Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl – Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham, and Richard Beek
  • The Wild Robot – Chris Sanders and Jeff Hermann

Animated Short Film

  • Beautiful Men – Nicolas Keppens and Brecht Van Elslande
  • In the Shadow of the Cypress – Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi
  • Magic Candies – Daisuke Nishio and Takashi Washio
  • Wander to Wonder – Nina Gantz and Stienette Bosklopper
  • Yuck! – Loïc Espuche and Juliette Marquet

Cinematography

  • The Brutalist – Lol Crawley
  • Dune: Part Two – Greig Fraser
  • Emilia Pérez – Paul Guilhaume
  • Maria – Ed Lachman
  • Nosferatu – Jarin Blaschke

Costume Design

  • A Complete Unknown – Arianne Phillips
  • Conclave – Lisy Christl
  • Gladiator II – Janty Yates and Dave Crossman
  • Nosferatu – Linda Muir
  • Wicked – Paul Tazewell

Directing

  • Anora – Sean Baker
  • The Brutalist – Brady Corbet
  • A Complete Unknown – James Mangold
  • Emilia Pérez – Jacques Audiard
  • The Substance – Coralie Fargeat

Documentary Feature Film

  • Black Box Diaries – Shiori Ito, Eric Nyari, and Hanna Aqvilin
  • No Other Land – Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal, and Yuval Abraham
  • Porcelain War – Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev, Aniela Sidorska, and Paula DuPre’ Pesmen
  • Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat – Johan Grimonprez, Daan Milius, and Rémi Grellety
  • Sugarcane – Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie and Kellen Quinn

Documentary Short Film

  • Death by Numbers – Kim A. Snyder and Janique L. Robillard
  • I Am Ready, Warden – Smriti Mundhra and Maya Gnyp
  • Incident – Bill Morrison and Jamie Kalven
  • Instruments of a Beating Heart – Ema Ryan Yamazaki and Eric Nyari
  • The Only Girl in the Orchestra – Molly O’Brien and Lisa Remington

Film Editing

  • Anora – Sean Baker
  • The Brutalist – David Jancso
  • Conclave – Nick Emerson
  • Emilia Pérez – Juliette Welfling
  • Wicked – Myron Kerstein

International Feature Film

  • Brazil – I’m Still Here
  • Denmark – The Girl with the Needle
  • France – Emilia Pérez
  • Germany – The Seed of the Sacred Fig
  • Latvia – Flow

Makeup and Hairstyling

  • A Different Man – Mike Marino, David Presto, and Crystal Jurado
  • Emilia Pérez – Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier, and Jean-Christophe Spadaccini
  • Nosferatu – David White, Traci Loader, and Suzanne Stokes-Munton
  • The Substance – Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli
  • Wicked – Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, and Sarah Nuth

Music (Original Score)

  • The Brutalist – Daniel Blumberg
  • Conclave – Volker Bertelmann
  • Emilia Pérez – Clément Ducol and Camille
  • Wicked – John Powell and Stephen Schwartz
  • The Wild Robot – Kris Bowers

Music (Original Song)

  • “El Mal” (Emilia Pérez) – Clément Ducol and Camille
  • “The Journey” (The Six Triple Eight) – Diane Warren
  • “Like A Bird” (Sing Sing) – Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada
  • “Mi Camino” (Emilia Pérez) – Camille and Clément Ducol
  • “Never Too Late” (Elton John: Never Too Late) – Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, and Bernie Taupin

Best Picture

  • Anora – Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker
  • The Brutalist – Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim and Brady Corbet
  • A Complete Unknown – Fred Berger, James Mangold, and Alex Heineman
  • Conclave – Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, and Michael A. Jackman
  • Dune: Part Two – Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and Denis Villeneuve
  • Emilia Pérez – Pascal Caucheteux and Jacques Audiard
  • I’m Still Here – Maria Carlota Bruno and Rodrigo Teixeira
  • Nickel Boys – Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Joslyn Barnes
  • The Substance – Coralie Fargeat and Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner
  • Wicked – Marc Platt

Production Design

  • The Brutalist – Judy Becker (Production Design), Patricia Cuccia (Set Decoration)
  • Conclave – Suzie Davies (Production Design), Cynthia Sleiter (Set Decoration)
  • Dune: Part Two – Patrice Vermette (Production Design), Shane Vieau (Set Decoration)
  • Nosferatu – Craig Lathrop (Production Design), Beatrice Brentnerová (Set Decoration)
  • Wicked – Nathan Crowley (Production Design), Lee Sandales (Set Decoration)

Live Action Short Film

  • A Lien – Sam Cutler-Kreutz and David Cutler-Kreutz
  • Anuja – Adam J. Graves and Suchitra Mattai
  • I’m Not a Robot – Victoria Warmerdam and Trent
  • The Last Ranger – Cindy Lee and Darwin Shaw
  • The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent – Nebojša Slijepčević and Danijel Pek

Sound

  • A Complete Unknown – Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey, and David Giammarco
  • Dune: Part Two – Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill
  • Emilia Pérez – Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz, and Niels Barletta
  • Wicked – Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson, and John Marquis
  • The Wild Robot – Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo, and Leff Lefferts

Visual Effects

  • Alien: Romulus – Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin, and Shane Mahan
  • Better Man – Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, and Peter Stubbs
  • Dune: Part Two – Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer
  • Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story, and Rodney Burke
  • Wicked – Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk, and Paul Corbould

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

  • A Complete Unknown – Screenplay by James Mangold and Jay Cocks
  • Conclave – Screenplay by Peter Straughan
  • Emilia Pérez – Screenplay by Jacques Audiard; In collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius, and Nicolas Livecchi
  • Nickel Boys – Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes
  • Sing Sing – Screenplay by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield

Writing (Original Screenplay)

  • Anora – Written by Sean Baker
  • The Brutalist – Written by Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold
  • A Real Pain – Written by Jesse Eisenberg
  • September 5 – Written by Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum; Co-Written by Alex David
  • The Substance – Written by Coralie Fargeat

Looking for something new to watch? Don’t miss our list of the best free movie streaming sites.

FAQ

How can I watch the Oscars live?

You can watch the ceremony live on Hulu or ABC in the US, CTV in Canada, ITVX in the UK, RTE Player in Ireland, 7plus in Australia, ProSieben in Germany, and Star Movies in India. If you’re tuning in from your dorm or the office, you can download a VPN to help you bypass network restrictions so you don’t miss any of the live action.

Is the Oscars streaming on Hulu?

Yes, you can watch the Oscars live stream on Hulu. This is the first year that the Oscars will be available to stream in the US.

Who is hosting the Oscars in 2025?

Conan O’Brien is hosting the 97th Academy Awards. Although this is his first time hosting the Oscars, he has plenty of prior experience, from hosting his own late-night show to hosting the Emmys and the MTV Movie Awards.

How can I watch the Oscars in Canada?

You can watch the Oscars on CTV in Canada. You can live stream the award ceremony online via the CTV.ca website or download the app to watch on your mobile device or TV. The show starts at 7 p.m. EST.

Is the Oscars live on Peacock?

No, Peacock will not offer coverage of the Oscars. You can stream the show on Hulu, or watch it on your local ABC channel. You can also use a live TV streaming platform that has ABC, such as YouTube TV, Hulu+ Live TV, or DirecTV.

Why is it called the Oscars?

No one knows exactly how the Academy Awards got its nickname. Some believe former Academy librarian Margaret Herrick came up with the title because she thought the statue looked like her Uncle Oscar. Others credit newspaper columnist Sidney Skolsky for coining the moniker in reference to Oscar Hammerstein I, a theater owner.

Can I stream the Oscars for free?

Yes, you can stream the Academy Awards ceremony for free on ITVX in the UK, RTE Player in Ireland, CTV in Canada, 7plus in Australia, and Joyn in Germany. In the US, new subscribers can take advantage of Hulu’s free trial to watch for free – if you don’t want to continue your subscription, you’ll need to remember to cancel before the end of the trial period.

Is anyone streaming the Oscars?

Hulu will stream the Oscars live in the US. You can also watch the show on any live TV streaming platform that has ABC, including Hulu+ Live TV, DirecTV, Fubo, and YouTube TV.

Can you watch the Oscars on Amazon?

You can’t watch the Oscars award ceremony on Amazon, but many of the nominated movies are available to buy or rent on Prime Video. These include Anora, Wicked, The Substance, and Conclave

Can I use a VPN to watch content that’s not available in my country?

Some VPN users may use a server in another country, where certain content is available, to watch from their own country. While we cannot see what you are doing online due to our no-logs policy, this goes against our terms of service and is not acceptable.

PIA VPN puts your privacy first and we don’t track our users’ activity. That said, you should always comply with relevant laws, including copyright.