Oscars Security Boosted Amid Iran Drone Threat Alert

Security measures for the 98th Academy Awards have been intensified following a federal alert about potential retaliatory drone attacks from Iran targeting California, prompting collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

The ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with host Conan O'Brien leading the event. It will air live on ABC at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, or 4 p.m. Pacific Time, and stream on Hulu, reaching audiences in more than 200 territories worldwide. The red carpet coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time, or 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Organizers rolled out the red carpet on Wednesday during a kickoff event, where they addressed safety concerns amid the heightened alert.

The FBI issued the warning to California law enforcement agencies late last month, citing intelligence that Iran had aspired, as of early February 2026, to launch a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. coast. The potential strikes would target unspecified sites in California in response to recent U.S. military actions against Iranian infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and leadership....