What’s On The Menu For The 2026 Oscars?

With just a few days to go until the 98th Oscars awards (held on 15 March 2026), the world’s biggest stars are gearing up to find out whether they’ll be going home with trophies. But what we’re most curious about is what the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Emma Stone will be eating on the night. Once again, celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck has been brought in to head up the culinary offering for the Oscars Governors Ball – AKA the official afterparty, which takes place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovulation Hollywood (steps away from the Dolby Theatre where the awards ceremony happens). So what’s on this year’s menu?

Oscars Menu 2026: All The Food And Drink Being Served At The Governors Ball

Who Is The Chef For The Oscars 2026?

Austrian chef Wolfgang Puck is spearheading the catering operation for this year’s Oscars, making this the 32nd time he’s landed the prestigious gig. Over the years, Puck has garnered a reputation as the go-to chef for A-listers. His LA restaurant Spago is frequented by everyone from Bradley Cooper to Taylor Swift and Tom Hanks, and he has catered for a string of high-profile weddings for the likes of Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton. Puck also owns eateries all over the world, including one in London: CUT at 45 Park Lane, renowned for its impressive steak offering.

Wolfgang Puck

London chef Elliott Grover (culinary director at 45 Park Lane) will also be returning to bring a touch of Britain to the festivities. And naturally, Puck and Grover will need a bit of help in executing an affair of this calibre and size: the banquet requires a team of 75 savoury chefs, 45 pastry chefs and 325 front-of-house staff and managers. 

What’s On The Oscars Menu For 2026?

Once the Best Picture award has been announced, it’s time for the stars to descend the stairs to the glitzy afterparty – and by the time they arrive they’re often starving. But of course a lavish spread is ready and waiting. Like previous years, comfort fare will be the prime focus for 2026: ‘Comfort food is always the ​people’s favorite food, like our chicken pot pie, smoked salmon pizza, our macaroni ​and cheese or the mini wagyu burgers,’ said Puck said at a preview event. ‘It’s all about the quality of the ingredients and the quality of the dishes,’ he added. ‘We have to cook for 1,500 people. We keep it simple. We don’t need 10 sauces with it.’

Grover’s canape-style fish and chips will be returning – usually made with seabass, and served with a dollop of tartare sauce. It’s likely there will be a beef dish too: in 2025 Grover served a slice of wagyu in a Yorkshire pudding, and last year beef wellington featured.

Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott host the announcement of the 97th Oscars® nominations, on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Exciting new additions for 2026 include a live izakaya station serving up handrolls, nigiri and crispy rice cakes, as well as an Italian gelato machine. ‘It’s hard when you’re doing ice cream or sorbets or gelatos for 1,500 people,’ said Puck’s son and co-chef, Byron Puck. ‘You bring it out and it’s usually like a rock because it’s so cold and has to last throughout the night. This machine keeps it cold and turns the ice cream so you end up getting a nice, consistent silky texture – and it’s from scratch!’

With over 1,200 guests expected to attend this year, cooking for the event is a huge operation; on the night the team will whip up over 600 pizzas, 3,000 artichoke agnolotti and 200 mini chocolate Oscars. And all this requires ordering high quantities of luxurious ingredients in advance, with Puck estimating they’ll use 14kg of Kaluga caviar, 91kg of Nishiki rice and 91kg of dry-aged ribeye – not to mention the two gallons of 24K liquid gold, which the celebs can put to use at the chocolate Oscar spraying station.

Which Drinks Will Be Served?

Tequila brand Don Julio will be curating the drinks offering once again, with esteemed mixologist Charles Joly teaming up with the group behind Hong Bar’s Bar Leone (named the World’s Best Bar 2025) to create an exclusive selection of cocktails. Concoctions for 2026 include Best in Show: a blend of Tequila Don Julio Blanco, dry vermouth, elderflower liqueur, cucumber syrup and sparkling water, garnished with cucumber and Mexican salt.

For the fourth year running, wines will come from Clarendelle & Domaine Clarence Dillon, while Piper-Heidsieck will be making its Oscars debut as the official champagne of the Governors Ball.