The upcoming 98th Academy Awards will spotlight one of the year’s biggest cultural and cinematic moments as producers plan an expansive tribute to Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, the most nominated film in Oscars history.
The tribute will center on the film’s Oscar-nominated original song “I Lied to You,” performed by Sinners breakout star Miles Caton alongside Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Raphael Saadiq, who composed music for the film. But the segment will go far beyond a traditional performance, unfolding as a cinematic homage to the film’s music, storytelling, and visual style.
READ: ‘Sinners’ Becomes the Most Nominated Film in Oscar History + Full List of Nominations
According to executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan, the moment will feature a wide range of artists connected to the film’s sound and cultural influence. Joining Caton and Saadiq on stage will be ballet legend Misty Copeland, blues icon Buddy Guy, and musicians Eric Gales, Brittany Howard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Alice Smith, and Bobby Rush. Grammy-winning artist Shaboozey will also appear during the segment.
The tribute will also include appearances from Sinners co-stars Jayme Lawson and Li Jun Li, further tying the performance to the film’s ensemble and its layered storytelling.
Kapoor and Mullan described the moment as part of a broader effort to celebrate films that had a significant cultural impact this year.
“This year, our music performances are inspired by two of the most powerful cultural phenomena in film: Sinners, the most nominated film in Oscars history, and KPop Demon Hunters, a global pop culture sensation,” the producers said in a statement. “These show moments are more than just performances — they expand into cinematic tributes that celebrate the relationship between music and storytelling and why these films resonated so deeply with audiences around the world.”
The tribute to Sinners will explore how music shapes the film’s narrative, culminating in the live performance of “I Lied to You,” which has become one of the film’s most talked-about moments.
Alongside the Sinners segment, the Oscars will also feature a large musical tribute tied to Netflix’s animated blockbuster “KPop Demon Hunters.” That performance will include a fusion of traditional Korean instrumentalists and dance, celebrating the folklore and cultural inspiration behind the film, and will feature EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, the singing voices behind the fictional girl group Huntr/x, performing the Oscar-nominated song “Golden.”
In addition to the two major musical tributes, the ceremony will feature appearances by Josh Groban and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, with more talent expected to be announced leading up to the broadcast.
Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The ceremony will air live on ABC and stream on Hulu, beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with the official red carpet coverage starting 30 minutes earlier.
As awards season reaches its final stage, the Oscars’ decision to build an expansive tribute around Sinners underscores just how dominant the Ryan Coogler film has been this year — not just as a contender, but as a cultural force shaping the conversation around music, filmmaking, and storytelling.