The 2026 Oscars will give more time to one of the ceremony’s most emotional moments. Producers behind the Academy Awards have decided to extend the ‘In Memoriam’ segment after what they described as a painful year of losses across the film world. While the show will still aim to entertain a global audience, this year’s ceremony is also being shaped by grief, remembrance, and the need to properly honor several major industry figures who died over the past year.
Oscars 2026 ‘In Memoriam’ segment extended
Speaking to Variety, producer Katy Mullan said, “We’ve had an incredibly tough year of losses. So many cinema titans have passed away, and there are so many people who care so deeply for a lot of the people we’ll be tributing and honouring. That has taken a lot of conversation, a lot of thought, and will continue right up into the show.” Her comments made clear that the team is treating the segment with special care as it prepares one of the night’s most sensitive sections.Executive producer Raj Kapoor also explained how much work goes into shaping that tribute. He said, “It’s everything from graphic design to titles to placement, because it all matters.” He added, “Who follows who, where those beats happen, it’s very nuanced.” Kapoor also said the team behind the tribute film keeps working on it right up to showtime because “there are so many changes and revisions.”
Oscars 2026 nominations and ceremony details
Kapoor also stressed the emotional weight of the segment. “It’s a chance for people to say goodbye. It’s a chance for them to see some of their favourite people one more time, and it’s a memory. We don’t take it lightly,” he said. The extended tribute comes after the deaths of several respected figures in entertainment, including Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and Diane Ladd.Alongside that serious tone, the awards race is also generating strong interest. ‘Sinners’ leads this year’s field with 16 nominations, setting a new Oscars record. It is followed by ‘One Battle After Another,’ which has earned 13 nominations. The ceremony will also mark Conan O’Brien’s second straight year as host. In addition to returning as emcee, he also appeared in the film ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’ alongside Best Actress nominee Rose Byrne. The 2026 Academy Awards will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where the film industry will gather to celebrate the year’s top achievements and remember the stars it lost.
