Hollywood Tightens the Screws: Oscars 2026 to Slash Musical Performances in Bid to Shorten Ceremony
LOS ANGELES – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is taking a drastic step to address the notoriously lengthy runtime of the Oscars telecast. This year’s ceremony, set for March 15 (airing in the early hours of March 16 in Spain), will feature significantly fewer live musical performances, a move sparking debate within the industry and among fans.
For decades, the Oscars have been criticized for running long, often exceeding four hours. Presenters themselves have poked fun at the duration, with Toni Acosta at the 2026 Goya Awards joking that the show “starts in February and ends in March.” The Academy hopes to shave approximately 15 minutes off the broadcast by limiting live musical numbers.
Traditionally, the Oscars showcase all nominated songs in live performances, a beloved element of the show. This year, however, only EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI performing “Golden” from the Netflix film Las guerreras K-pop, and Miles Caton singing “I Lied to You” from Sinners will take the stage.
The decision initially called for no live performances of nominated songs, but a public outcry prompted a slight reversal. Artists like Kesha, nominated for “Dear Me” from the documentary Diane Warren: Relentless, and Nick Cave and Bryce Dressner, nominated for “Train Dreams” from the Netflix film of the same name, will not be performing. Puerto Rican soprano Ana María Martínez, nominated for “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi!, has also been excluded from the live lineup.
The move comes as the 98th Academy Awards introduces a new category – Best Casting – which itself is expected to add to the show’s length. The Academy is clearly prioritizing brevity, even at the expense of a long-standing tradition.
Past Oscar performances, such as Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s rendition of “Shallow” and the energetic “Naatu Naatu” from RRR, have become iconic moments in the show’s history. Whether this year’s scaled-back musical lineup will diminish the spectacle remains to be seen.
The ceremony will be broadcast in Spain via Movistar Plus+.