3 Minutes
Big stage, global sounds
The 2026 Academy Awards are shaping up as a ceremony that blends old Hollywood spectacle with distinctly global energy. One of the night's most talked-about moments will be a live performance of "Golden" by K-Pop group KPop Demon Hunters — a sign of how pop acts from outside the U.S. are carving space on cinema's biggest stage. Alongside them, Sinners will perform "I Lied to You" live, while the other nominees in the Best Original Song race will be presented via produced film segments.
Who else is nominated for Best Original Song?
The full field highlights a mix of film composers and veteran songwriters: "Train Dreams" by Nick Kyu and Bryce Dessner (from Train Dreams), Diane Warren's autobiographical entry "Dear Me" (from Diane Warren: Relentless), and "Sweet Dreams of Joy" by Nicholas Peak (from Viva Verdi). That lineup pairs indie-leaning composers with mainstream hitmakers, reflecting a diverse soundtrack landscape.
Context: ceremony length and format changes
Producers have repeatedly trimmed and retooled the Oscars to keep runtime manageable. Last year, full live renditions of the Best Original Song nominees were dropped to save time — yet the show still ran long. This year the Academy appears to be striking a compromise: two live performances to preserve the moment and produced packages to introduce the others, balancing spectacle with pacing.
New category and hosting
Another major change: the Academy is introducing a Best Casting category, an acknowledgement of casting's creative role in filmmaking and ensemble storytelling. Conan O'Brien returns as host for a second consecutive year, bringing late-night energy and a sharper comedic edge to the telecast.
Beyond the headlines, this Oscars feels emblematic of a broader trend: awards shows opening to global music currents and formal recognition of behind-the-scenes crafts. For fans, the mix of live K-Pop electricity and honors for casting suggests an Academy trying to modernize without losing the theatricality that makes the night appointment television.
A quick note for cinephiles: watch how the produced song segments are edited — they often reveal as much about a film's narrative strategy as the songs themselves.
Leave a Comment