Huntr/x and a Whole Host of ‘Sinners’ Artists Will Perform at the 2026 Oscars

With the 98th Oscars only days away, executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan have revealed a much more expansive plan for the previously announced pair of Best Original Song performances from the Academy Award-nominated films “KPop Demon Hunters” and “Sinners.”

“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,” said Kapoor and Mullan via 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.”

For “KPop Demon Hunters,” the plan is to fuse traditional Korean instrumentalists and dance, celebrating the folklore and cultural inspiration that anchors the story behind the animated blockbuster that happens to be Netflix’s most-watched film of all time. The experience will include musicians EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, the singing voices behind Huntr/x, the Korean girl group the film is centered around, performing Best Original Song Oscar frontrunner “Golden” from the film. 

As for the “Sinners” moment, the musical segment is set to explore the role music plays in the film’s storytelling for a cinematic live moment on the Oscars stage. The film’s breakout star Miles Caton and singer/songwriter Raphael Saadiq will perform “I Lied To You,” the Oscar-nominated centerpiece of the Ryan Coogler film. They will also be joined by several artists involved with the film and/or its soundtrack, including Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Bobby Rush, and Alice Smith, plus Grammy winner Shaboozey, for an homage to the film’s singular visual style.

Though the other three Best Original Song nominees “Train Dreams,” “Dear Me,” and “Sweet Dreams of Joy,” from “Train Dreams,” “Diane Warren: Relentless,” and “Viva Verdi!,” respectively, will not be performed in full, the Oscar producers do include in their announcement that the show will include appearances by Josh Groban and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Kapoor and Mullan will continue to announce talent joining the show leading up to the ceremony.

The 98th Oscars will once again be hosted by Conan O’Brien and held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The Oscars will air live on ABC and stream live on Hulu on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the official live red carpet show airing at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.