The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that only two Best Original Song nominees will be performed live during the 98th Academy Awards, marking a notable shift in how the category is presented this year.
“I Lied to You” from Sinners and “Golden” from the animated musical KPop Demon Hunters are the only songs that will receive full live performances during the ceremony, which takes place March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre. The show will air on ABC and stream on Hulu, with Conan O’Brien serving as host.
The decision was outlined in a letter sent to music nominees and signed by executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, along with producer Taryn Hurd. According to the Academy, time constraints tied to the 3½-hour broadcast and the addition of the new Casting Oscar category made it impractical to stage performances for all five nominees.
Rather than removing the category from the telecast, producers emphasized that Best Original Song will remain fully integrated into the show. Each nominated song will be introduced through custom-produced segments using footage from its respective film, with select behind-the-scenes elements highlighting the songwriting process and creative intent.
Songs not receiving live performances include Diane Warren’s “Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless, Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner’s title song from Train Dreams, and Nicholas Pike’s “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi!.
“Sinners,” which leads this year’s Oscars with 16 nominations, continues to stand out as one of the ceremony’s most dominant films. “I Lied to You,” co-written by Ludwig Göransson and Raphael Saadiq, has been widely praised for how it deepens the film’s emotional and narrative impact—making its selection as one of the night’s featured musical moments especially significant.
Academy producers noted that staging live performances for all nominees would have added approximately 25 minutes to the broadcast, potentially displacing other key moments. While the shift has already sparked conversation among industry insiders, the Academy maintains that the approach allows for a faster-paced, more cohesive show while still honoring every nominee on the broadcast.
The 98th Academy Awards will air live on March 15, with musical moments spotlighting Sinners and KPop Demon Hunters as two of the night’s defining performances.
Originally read on Variety.