PEOPLE was there before film's biggest night takes place on Sunday, March 15
Credit: Universal Pictures/Entertainment Pictures/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
NEED TO KNOW
- PEOPLE was in the building as preparations for the 2026 Oscars took place on Saturday, March 14
- During rehearsals for the 98th Academy Awards, Bridesmaids stars reunited, Javier Bardem cracked jokes and more
- The Oscars will air live on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 15
Film's biggest night is almost here — and PEOPLE had an inside look as preparations are underway.
The 2026 Oscars will air on Sunday, March 15, from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. Held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the 98th Academy Awards will honor the best of the best in the film industry.
PEOPLE was in attendance during rehearsals for the annual awards show on Saturday, March 14, and got to see some of the exciting plans being worked on for the show.
At one point, Javier Bardem walked off the Oscars stage, having completed rehearsal for his moment as a presenter at Sunday’s show.
Greeting producers, the F1 star, 57, joked with a grin, "Am I fired?” After sharing a warm hello, while dressed casually in a black tee and matching pants, Bardem promised, “I’m going to learn the lines."
The actor was one of many A-listers utilizing the weekend to run through their lines. Others included Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin, Mikey Madison, Will Arnett, Bill Pullman, Lewis Pullman and Wagner Moura, to name a few.
Credit: AMPAS
But perhaps no one was having more fun than the reunited Bridesmaids cast. Stars Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper and Maya Rudolph assembled on March 14 for their much-anticipated Oscars reunion, each wearing a credential around their neck.
Dressed casually — Byrne, 46, wore a black jumpsuit, and Wiig, 52, appeared in jeans and a black tank. Each of the five stars wore what appeared to be their show-day sky-high heels.
The same magic that drove Bridesmaids to box office glory was evident from the get-go. As the room full of producers, technicians, crew and camera operators applauded, McCarthy, 55, and Byrne walked onstage with their arms jokingly outstretched, blowing kisses and hamming it up.
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Practicing a particularly funny bit, Wiig stopped at one point to refine the timing of the camera cutting between her costars and the audience.
After announcing the faux winner (and watching a stand-in make a thank-you speech), McCarthy danced as the group exited stage left.
Credit: AMPAS
"It's a stacked show," Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said on March 14.
He added that a Sinners performance during the Oscars is "going to blow your mind."
It was also confirmed that Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor will appear together during the broadcast for a Moulin Rouge! reunion ahead of the film's upcoming 25th anniversary.
Credit: AMPAS
Producers of the 98th Academy Awards, to be hosted again by comedian Conan O'Brien, previously teased "huge reunions" destined for the broadcast.
One includes a Marvel reunion, which executive producer Katy Mullan said is "for the superhero fans."
"So we’re going to have superstars and superheroes,” she added during a March 11 press conference.
“And there is also going to be an extraterrestrial on the stage, so you can figure that one out," Mullan also teased.
Sources previously told PEOPLE that a Devil Wears Prada moment is in motion for the show, where Anne Hathaway has previously been confirmed as a presenter.
The moment is said to draw from the upcoming sequel (in theaters May 1), which reunites Hathaway, 43, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.
An expanded In Memoriam segment is also expected following a year that saw the loss of many stars, including Diane Keaton, Robert Redford and Rob Reiner.
O'Brien, 62, told Extra that the segment honoring his late friend Reiner was "hard to sum up," but added, "It's going to be a very powerful part of the show."
A total of 10 films were nominated this year for Best Picture: Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners and Train Dreams.
Sinners cemented its place in history with a whopping 16 nominations, making it the most nominated movie of all time.
Some notable stars nominated this year include Michael B. Jordan, Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura in the Best Actor category, and Jessie Buckley, Emma Stone, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve and Byrne for Best Actress.
See PEOPLE's coverage of the 98th Academy Awards, airing live on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 15.
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