As the world anticipates the arrival of the 2026 Oscars this Sunday, all of the major races continue to be in conversation. With Best Picture seeming to be narrowed down to either One Battle After Another or Sinners taking home the gold, that two film race is basically the conversation of the moment. At the same time, Ryan Coogler’s genre-mashing vampire epic has another contest that’s pretty stiff; as it’s also competing against KPop Demon Hunters for the Best Music (Song) Oscar. That could be the contest of the night, especially thanks to a very special musical honor almost ensuring both movies will be talked about for some time.
Sinners And KPop Demon Hunters Will Be The Musical Centerpieces Of The 2026 Oscars
Thanks to an official Oscars press release, we now know that both of these musical-adjacent entries will have live performances at the 98th Academy Awards. What’s more, apparently these may be the only two nominees from the pack of five original song nominees to be performed during the ABC telecast. Though that could change, as this announcement did note that “the producers will continue to announce talent joining the show leading up to the ceremony.” So there might be a chance to hear Train Dreams’ titular track played live after all.
As for the significance behind Sinners and KPop’s musical spotlights, here’s what executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan had to say – in a joint statement:
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. 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.
It probably helps that “I Lied To You” and “Golden” are two of the most memorable songs from 2025’s cinematic canon. Throw in the popularity for both Sinners and KPop Demon Hunters, which has led to everything from memes to merch exploding onto the scene, and it seems like a no-brainer. As we’re about to discuss, the Academy seems to respect the opportunity being offered by both of these movies to celebrate their very vital common thread.
The Cultural Impact Of Both Sinners And KPop Demon Hunters Will Also Be Honored
It’d be easy to get hyped about how EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami – the singing voices for Huntr/x, are going to be on hand to sing at the 2026 Oscars. Ditto for Miles Caton being tapped for similar honors. Thanks to additional details from the press release heralding these performances, we now know that both songs are going to highlight the cultures they represent.
With that in mind, read these details on what’s in store for “Golden”:
The “KPop Demon Hunters” moment begins with a fusion of traditional Korean instrumentalists and dance, celebrating the folklore and cultural inspiration that anchors the story behind this animated blockbuster. As part of this experience, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA and REI AMI, the singing voices behind HUNTR/X, will perform the Oscar®-nominated original song “Golden” from the film.
As for Sinners, the Oscars have a similar moment planned; and you probably know where this is going. So go ahead and get to smiling as you read how “I Lied To You” is going to play out:
The “Sinners” moment explores the role music plays in the film’s storytelling and translates this into a cinematic live moment on the Oscars stage. Miles Caton and Raphael Saadiq will perform the Oscar-nominated original song “I Lied To You,” and they will be joined by Misty Copeland, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jayme Lawson, Li Jun Li, Bobby Rush, Shaboozey and Alice Smith in an homage to the film’s singular visual style.
Both Oscars 2026 setpieces have everything a person could want from Oscar night. Centered around catchy songs, paired with talent filled rosters, and celebrating the differences of the people involved; it’s hard not to say that everyone is going to feel golden.
We’ll finally get to see the results, as well as who wins Best Music (Song), at the 98th Oscars – set to air Sunday, March 15th, starting at 7 PM ET! The proceedings will be broadcast live on ABC, as well as through a Hulu livestream. And as we count the days to Oscar glory, don’t forget to keep a tab tuned to THS’ Movie News archives, where you can track all of the latest and greatest in pop culture!
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