Yes, you can watch the Oscars on Disney Plus in some countries, but viewers in the U.S. often need ABC, Hulu, or another local channel instead.
How Oscars Streaming Rights Work
The simple answer to whether you can watch the Oscars on Disney Plus is that it depends on where you live and which year’s ceremony you are asking about. The Academy awards global broadcast rights country by country, and Disney then slices those rights across ABC, Hulu, Disney+ and regional partners.
In the United States, the Oscars air on ABC through at least 2028, with live streaming on platforms such as Hulu and the ABC apps for eligible pay-TV or live-TV subscribers.[1] In many countries outside the U.S., local partners carry the show, and in some markets Disney Plus (or Disney+ Hotstar) holds the live streaming rights for the ceremony.
The Academy keeps a current “how to watch” list that shows official broadcasters and streamers for each country. That list changes from year to year, so you cannot assume that one year’s setup will match the next.
Can You Watch The Oscars On Disney Plus In Your Country?
If you open Disney Plus on the night of the Oscars, you might see the show ready to stream, or you might not see it at all. That gap comes down to regional rights. In recent seasons, the Oscars have streamed live on Disney+ or Disney+ Hotstar in several territories, while other regions used different services.
Here are examples drawn from recent official listings to give you a sense of how Disney Plus access to the Oscars looks across the globe:
| Region | Service Name | Recent Oscars Access |
|---|---|---|
| India | Disney+ Hotstar | Live stream of the 96th Oscars in 2024, alongside Star Movies channels. |
| Malaysia | Disney+ | Listed as the broadcaster for recent ceremonies on the Academy’s international guide. |
| New Zealand | Disney+ | Marketed as the place to watch the 2025 Oscars live for local viewers. |
| Norway | Disney+ | Included among official outlets for live coverage in the Academy’s country breakdown. |
| Portugal | Disney+ | Appears alongside RTP channels as a platform that carries the ceremony. |
| Middle East & North Africa | Other Platforms | Regional services such as Shahid have carried the show instead of Disney Plus. |
| Most Of Europe | Local Channels | Canal+, FilmBox, and national public broadcasters appear more often than Disney Plus. |
| Latin America | Local Channels | Free-to-air networks tend to hold the rights; Disney Plus has not been the main live outlet. |
| United States | ABC, Hulu | ABC carries the telecast, with live streaming and next-day streaming on Hulu, not Disney Plus. |
Because this distribution shifts, the only reliable way to confirm whether you can watch the Oscars on Disney Plus in your country for the current year is to check two places: the Academy’s official broadcaster list and the Disney Plus app itself close to show day.
How To Check The Official Oscars Broadcaster List
The Academy publishes a yearly grid of channels and streamers for every territory. You can find it on the official Oscars how-to-watch page. Look up your country and see whether Disney Plus or Disney+ Hotstar appears as the live outlet, or whether another partner carries the show.
How To Check Inside Disney Plus
On devices where Disney Plus holds rights, the ceremony usually sits on the home screen on the day of the show, often alongside red-carpet or nomination specials. If you do not see it on the front page, search for “Oscars” or “Academy Awards,” then check the details page for any live event badge or start time.
Where To Watch The Oscars If They Are Not On Disney Plus
If Disney Plus does not have the ceremony in your country this year, you still have several routes to watch. The options differ between the United States and the rest of the world.
Watching The Oscars In The United States
In the U.S., ABC remains the home of the Oscars. You can watch the broadcast with a standard antenna through your local ABC station, through cable or satellite packages that include ABC, or through live TV streaming bundles that carry the network.
Recent ceremonies have also streamed live on Hulu for subscribers to Hulu + Live TV, and then appeared on Hulu on demand the next day.[2] That setup ties into Disney’s ownership of both ABC and Hulu, but it is still separate from Disney Plus.
Because the mix of live TV services and promos changes often, the Academy again points viewers to its broadcaster list for current details, including any streaming bundles that carry ABC in your area.
Watching The Oscars Outside The United States
Outside the U.S., the broadcast patchwork widens. Some regions receive the show through Disney Plus, others through pay-TV movie channels, and many through national broadcasters. The Academy’s country-by-country guide shows entries such as Canal+ in Poland, FilmBox in parts of Europe, and various public broadcasters paired with online catch-up services.
Streaming availability also varies. In India, for instance, Disney+ Hotstar streamed the 96th Oscars live, with Star Movies and Star World airing the ceremony on traditional TV. In other markets, a local broadcaster may provide a stream only through its own website or app, even though Disney Plus runs in the same country.
If you plan to watch from overseas, check both the Academy’s list and any local listings from your TV provider or favorite streaming bundle. That cross-check saves you from scrambling on the night of the show.
Step-By-Step: Confirm Oscars Access On Disney Plus
To save time on the day of the ceremony, it helps to confirm your setup in advance. This quick routine works whether you hope to stream on Disney Plus or through another service.
- Check The Academy’s Guide — Visit the official Oscars how-to-watch page and confirm which outlet holds rights in your country for this year’s ceremony.
- Open Disney Plus On Your Main Device — Launch the Disney Plus app on the TV, streaming box, console, or mobile device you plan to use on the night.
- Search For “Oscars” Or “Academy Awards” — Use the search tab and scan any live tiles, red-carpet events, or nomination specials that appear.
- Look For Live Event Labels — On services that carry the ceremony, the event tile often lists the date, time, and a “live” tag or similar wording.
- Check Your Subscription Tier — Make sure your Disney Plus plan includes access in your region; bundle changes and add-on tiers can affect live events.
- Confirm Backup Options — If the Oscars do not appear in Disney Plus, line up access through ABC, Hulu, a local channel, or a live TV streaming bundle that carries the official broadcaster.
Watching Past Oscars Content On Disney Plus
Even when you cannot watch the live Oscars ceremony on Disney Plus, the service still offers a lot of Oscars-related content. Disney often groups nominated and winning films into curated rows, and has hosted nomination specials and red-carpet coverage as separate programs.
The platform features collections such as an “Oscars Winners and Nominees” row, where you can stream recent nominees from Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Searchlight Pictures and other Disney labels.[3] This catalog gives you a way to catch up on Best Picture contenders, animated features, documentaries, and short films that tie into the current season.
Availability still depends on regional rights. Some films may sit on Disney Plus in one country and appear on Hulu, Star, or another partner elsewhere. The Oscars hub you see in your app reflects only the titles licensed for your region.
How To Find Oscars Collections And Specials
- Open The Search Or Browse Tab — On most devices, “Oscars” or “Academy Awards” brings up themed collections during awards season.
- Look For Curated Rows — Scan for rows such as “Oscars Winners,” “Best Picture Nominees,” or “Awards-Season Favorites” on the home screen.
- Check The Details Page — If you see a nomination special or red-carpet program, open its details page to verify audio languages, subtitles, and run time.
Streaming Tips For A Smooth Oscars Night
Live award shows place extra strain on streaming services and home networks. A bit of prep improves the odds that your Oscars stream runs without interruption, whether you watch on Disney Plus, Hulu, or a local broadcaster’s app.
- Test Your Connection Earlier In The Day — Stream another live event or a high-bitrate movie on the same device to see whether your network keeps up.
- Update Apps And Device Firmware — Install any pending updates for Disney Plus, Hulu, your smart TV, or streaming stick well before the red carpet starts.
- Sign In And Verify Your Plan — Confirm that your login works and that your plan covers the service you plan to use for the Oscars.
- Reduce Competing Traffic At Home — Ask housemates to pause large downloads or 4K streams during the ceremony so your device can use more bandwidth.
- Keep A Backup Stream Ready — Technical issues can hit during big events; recent Oscars streams on Hulu, for instance, have suffered from outage reports in the opening hour for some viewers.[4] Having a backup source such as a broadcast antenna or another live TV app can save the night.
- Start The Stream A Bit Early — Join the pre-show coverage so you can fix any login or buffering issues before the first award is handed out.
What To Expect After The Oscars Move To YouTube
The current question is about Disney Plus, but the longer-term picture for Oscars streaming is already shifting. The Academy has announced a deal to stream the Oscars globally on YouTube starting with the 2029 ceremony, ending the long-running relationship with ABC.[5]
Through 2028, ABC continues to carry the show in the United States, with streaming on associated platforms such as Hulu where available. Once the YouTube era begins, the live ceremony should be easier to access worldwide without a paid subscription, while regional partners may still offer local coverage, commentary, or dubbed feeds.
Disney Plus may still host Oscar-nominated films, nomination specials, and related content in that later setup, but the live ceremony itself is set to shift toward a more open global stream.
So, Can You Watch The Oscars On Disney Plus?
For the next several seasons, the honest answer is “sometimes.” In specific countries such as New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Malaysia, and India (through Disney+ Hotstar), recent Oscars broadcasts have streamed live on Disney’s flagship subscription service. In many other regions, though, the ceremony lives on ABC, Hulu, national broadcasters, or regional platforms, not inside Disney Plus.
The quickest plan is this. Check the Academy’s broadcaster list for the current year, search inside your Disney Plus app for any Oscars live event tiles, and, if needed, line up access through ABC, Hulu, or a local channel that has the rights. With that small bit of prep, you will know exactly where to click when the red carpet starts.
[1] Based on the Academy’s how-to-watch page and ABC coverage details for recent ceremonies.
[2] Confirmed through ABC News coverage of the Oscars streaming arrangement with Hulu.
[3] Based on Disney Plus “Oscars Winners and Nominees” and similar collections that appear during awards season.
[4] Based on entertainment press reports of Hulu outages during the 2025 Oscars live stream.
[5] Based on recent announcements from the Academy and news agencies regarding the move to YouTube in 2029.