CNN and Variety Team Up for 2026 Oscars Red Carpet Live

CNN Ends Decade-Long Oscars Hiatus with Variety Red Carpet Special

Elizabeth Wagmeister and Ramin Setoodeh lead the 2026 Academy Awards pre-show starting March 15 at 4 p.m. ET.

Sofia Chen

Mar 10, 2026, 9:46 PM PT · 1 min read

Elizabeth Wagmeister and Ramin Setoodeh will host CNN and Variety's Oscars pre-show on March 15.

THE RUNDOWN

CNN and Variety partner for 'CNN & Variety Red Carpet Live' on March 15.
Show starts at 4 p.m. ET from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Elizabeth Wagmeister and Ramin Setoodeh will co-host the live broadcast.
This marks CNN’s first Oscars red carpet coverage in nearly 10 years.
The special will air globally on CNN and CNN International networks.

CNN is heading back to the Dolby Theatre. The network is teaming up with Variety for a live pre-show titled CNN & Variety Red Carpet Live on March 15, 2026. This special broadcast marks CNN’s return to the Oscars red carpet, bringing viewers front-row access to Hollywood’s biggest night.

CNN Entertainment Correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister will co-host the event alongside Variety Co-Editor-in-Chief Ramin Setoodeh. The duo will provide live interviews and fashion commentary starting at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT). The partnership leverages Variety’s deep industry ties and CNN’s global reach to cover the 98th Academy Awards.

Viewers can catch the one-hour special on CNN and CNN International. This collaboration follows previous successful joint broadcasts between the two media giants at major film festivals and awards ceremonies. The 98th Oscars ceremony will follow the pre-show later that evening, celebrating the best in film from the past year.