Oscar week is Hollywood's ultimate celebration of talent, with A-listers gathering at carefully curated events that honor achievements across film while raising funds for important causes like the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The real Oscar action happens after the ceremony — Madonna and Jay-Z's legendary after-parties are where deals get done, alliances form, and the industry actually networks. That's where you need to be.
Madonna and Guy Oseary host their 18th annual The Party on Sunday, March 15 at 10 p.m. Jay-Z and Beyoncé's Gold Party runs until the wee hours at Chateau Marmont starting at 11 p.m. The Elton John AIDS Foundation Viewing Party begins at 2:30 p.m. with performance by Lola Young.
Whether you're tracking Beyoncé and Jay-Z's annual Gold Party or Madonna's legendary 18th bash, Oscar week is where Hollywood flexes its cultural capital. The real question: who's getting into Chateau Marmont after midnight?
Oscar week is officially upon us, and Hollywood's elite are gearing up for a seven-day gauntlet of red carpet events, private dinners, and after-parties that make the actual ceremony feel like just another item on the schedule. The festivities kick off Monday with Dior's Club J'adore party, where Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, "Scream 7" star Jasmin Savoy Brown, Alexandra Shipp, Jurnee Smollett, Julianna Hough and Lana Condor are expected to mix with the fashion crowd at a private location starting at 8 p.m.
But the real action heats up as the week progresses. Tuesday brings the annual "South Asians at the Oscars" 2026 Pre-Oscar Party, co-hosted by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Bela Bajaria, Aziz Ansari, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Geraldine Viswanathan — a powerhouse lineup representing Hollywood's growing South Asian influence. The following day, Diane von Fürstenberg's Oscar Nominee Luncheon celebrates this year's female nominees with co-hosts including Demi Moore, Jane Fonda, Nicole Avant Sarandos and Tracee Ellis Ross.
Thursday brings one of the season's most significant events: Essence's Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel. This year's honorees include Chase Infiniti, Kerry Washington, LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Zinzi Coegler, with a special tribute to all the women of "Sinners" — cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, production designer Hannah Beachler, costume designer Ruth E. Carter, hair designer Shunika Terry-Jennings and stars Wunmi Mosaku and Jayme Lawson. Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo, Ryan Coogler, Teyana Taylor and Jurnee Smollett will present.
Now for the main events. Sunday, March 15 — the same day the 98th annual Academy Awards ceremony kicks off at the Dolby Theatre (hosted by Conan O'Brien) — is when the real parties begin. Jay-Z and Beyoncé's annual Gold Party will run into the wee hours at Chateau Marmont starting at 11 p.m., while Madonna and Guy Oseary host their 18th annual The Party at a private residence at 10 p.m., sponsored by Gucci, Swadesh, Salesforce and Uber, with complimentary chauffeur service ensuring guests make it home safely. Vanity Fair moves to LACMA for its legendary after-party, while Netflix hosts its own celebration immediately following the ceremony.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party remains one of the most prestigious charitable events of the season. Hosted by Elton John and David Furnish along with Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, the event features a performance by Lola Young and expects guests including Quinta Brunson, Dua Lipa, Tove Lo, Keke Palmer, Orville Peck and Sharon Stone. The party kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at West Hollywood Park — a star-studded affair that raises millions for AIDS research while giving the industry a front-row seat to Oscar night.
The Charles Finch & Chanel 17th annual dinner at the Polo Lounge on Saturday, March 14, serves as one of the week's most coveted invitations. Expected guests include Lily-Rose Depp, Kristen Stewart, Elle Fanning, Teyana Taylor, Wunmi Mosaku, Adrien Brody, Al Pacino, Miley Cyrus and more — a who's who of Hollywood's A-list gathering before the big night itself.
