When the Academy Awards accepted my credential request to cover the 2026 Oscars, the plan was set in motion.
I booked my stay at the Kimpton Everly Hollywood by IHG, one of my favorite Los Angeles hotels, just a few minutes from the Dolby Theatre, where the 98th Academy Awards took place.
Nestled in an L-shaped studio with a large desk that could accommodate two computers, phones, and media equipment, I looked over my busy and booked schedule and realized sleep could come after March 16.
Here’s how my Oscar schedule unfolded—from first invite to final exhale.
A Night of Legacy and Leading Men
Sinners star Omar Benson Miller was at Lexus Uptown Honors Hollywood, inside the Sunset Room, where he and three other talented Black and brown men in Hollywood received honors. He shared how he had taken his parents to see the award-winning film.
“My father actually picked cotton in Mississippi in the 1940s, and it was a real nostalgia for him with the blues and with the culture.” There’s something special about a cinematic experience that evokes an emotional memory in those you love.
Start time: 8 p.m.
End time: 11 p.m.
MACRO Energy, Main Moments
After a morning of quick story edits and an afternoon getting the rundown on the ins and outs of the Academy Awards’ official press room, I readied myself for the MACRO 8th Annual Pre-Oscars—one of the hottest tickets of the season.
Held at the beautiful Audrey Irmas Pavilion, I held court with DeVon Franklin, who shared his thanks for the support of his two biggest films of 2025: Ruth & Boaz and Relationship Goals. I also hung out with the talented Yaya DaCosta, making our own moment on the purple-and-brown MACRO carpet. The night should have ended around 1 a.m. But when you’re at MACRO…
Start time: 9 p.m.
End time: ???
Women, Wins, and Full-Circle Moments
With a morning that included much-needed bites at the Sundance Brunch, my afternoon took me to the Sofitel Beverly Hills for the MPowered Maverick Celebration.
Hosted by mega-producer Mona Scott-Young, the afternoon featured cocktails and care bags as we honored industry leaders and icons. That included Gabourey Sidibe, who directed the Lifetime film Mary J. Blige Presents: #BeHappy.
“To be 20 years into my career as an actor, and to meet her as a director, when I just had my own children…anything I needed, as a producer, you were there,” she gushed to Scott-Young, who served as the film’s producer.
Start time: 11:30 a.m.
End time: respectable
Ryan Coogler and the Power of Perspective
I was bright-eyed and refreshed to hear Ryan Coogler at the TikTok and Gold House Sinners Symposium. The soon-to-be Oscar winner shared that he wanted to create movies that could speak to everyone, regardless of their background.
“We are from these communities that have been pushed to the margins in terms of being behind the camera, but we grew up engaging with stories that came from everywhere and characters that didn’t look like us, and we knew that we could enjoy the movie,” he shared with a rapt audience. “If the shoe is on the other foot, the audience can still come along, because we did.”
It was then back to the Dolby for a rehearsal sneak peek for the big night—and, of course, to get those “I was on the Oscar carpet” pics for the ’gram. It was only a few hours before that red carpet would be filled with stars, some of them poised to take home that coveted statue.
Start time: 9:15 a.m.
End time: 10 p.m.
Oscar Day: The Marathon Behind the Magic
After a brisk morning yoga session, I started getting ready for my marathon day in the press room. Armed with my own seat—and some fortification from the Oscar press room snack bar—I readied myself to wait for the winners, holding up my sign for a chance to speak with them.
From the excitement surrounding the night’s biggest wins to the nonstop energy of the room, you could feel the magnitude of the moment. Even after nearly eight hours inside, it was worth every minute.
Start time: 12:30 p.m.
End time: no longer counting
The After Party and the Exhale
After rubbing elbows with upcoming Love Island: Beyond the Villa star Jeremiah Brown at POPSUGAR’s Awards Season After Party at Skybar in the Mondrian Hotel, my whirlwind of an Oscar week ended with a dream—a Dream stay.
With an easy click on Booking.com, I treated myself to a calm down at Dream Hollywood, a chic boutique space in West Hollywood.
I spent the afternoon lounging in a cabana overlooking its famous rooftop pool, thinking how it was only 364 days until I’d be back in Los Angeles—rooting for another lineup of talent and creatives who pour their heart, sweat, and tears into getting to that special moment on stage.
And I knew I’d be back as well—for another round.