If you’re tired of post-tailgate party cleanups, the lack of basic amenities, and the same few people dampening the mood, it’s time for a change. There are so many advantages to watching your favorite games in the comfort of your own living arrangements! We’re also talking to the award-season obsessives who want to feel energized and socialized in the lead-up to the year’s biggest trophies. Whether you’re chasing a sports connection or an entertainment high, viewing parties are the definitive way to watch things in 2026.
Where to Watch Entertainment Awards Shows
From snippets of the red carpet to the live broadcast, you can find the Grammys on the usual CBS channels and streaming platform Paramount+. For a more immersive experience with exclusive backstage interviews, live.GRAMMY.com is the website you need. Don’t get too much “Anxiety” about who’s going to win Record of the Year; meanwhile, the Album of the Year nominations are full of SWAG and Mayhem. There are so many other categories bursting with talented musicians and producers that deserve the gold-plated gramophone, and we look forward to seeing who wins in 2026.
For the Oscars (Academy Awards) lovers, you’ve a choice of watching it live on ABC or on multiple streaming sites like Hulu Live TV or YouTube TV. Hulu subscribers will be ecstatic to hear this news as it’s their first opportunity to watch the Oscars on the platform. According to NBC.com, we have many exciting movie contenders this year, such as Avatar: Fire and Ash, Frankenstein, Sinners, Hamnet, and many other epic movies, along with their super-talented casts. Make sure to let us know your 2026 Oscar predictions at the end of the article!
While the cinema screen has been “Defying Gravity” for the past few years, Broadway shows hit many new levels and notes with their dynamic productions. The Tony Award nominations of 2025-2026 are full of spectacular musicals and plays, which of course comes as no surprise! From Waiting for Godot to Two Strangers Carrying Cake Across New York, with well-known comedians thrown into the mix under the title Art, we’re in for an amazing award show!
While there are many other exciting awards to come in 2026, like the Emmys and Bet Awards, to name but a few, we’re super excited to see who’ll take the winning plaques.
Where to Watch Sports Games
Let’s get ready to rumble…! From scoring touchdowns to shooting hoops, going under or over par (which one is the good one again?) to serving curveballs, we’re going to discuss it all. Woooo sports – go team everyone!
Golf
If you see golf being your new hobby of 2026, you’re going to need personalized golf equipment and golf balls to get you over the line. Watching the biggest names around the world battle for the Masters title should be enough to pique your interest. Now if you want to watch the Masters from the fairway itself, it’ll set you back $4000+ dollars – that’s a lot of standing around if you ask us! Home comforts are certainly more enjoyable as you can witness the highs and lows indoors on the ESPN and CBS channels or stream them live at Masters.com.
Football
N is for nail-biting, F is for fast, and and L is for live action: put the 1st letter from each point together and you get the idea of what sport we’re talking about! The giant bowl will be filling our screens soon enough with a ‘Bad Bunny’ entertaining us at half time. And are you wondering where to watch the game? Fox and NBC will be televising it while Peacock and Tubi are streaming it. As there are still playoffs to be held in the near future, as of now we don’t know who’ll be playing, but it’s shaping up to be a fierce competition regardless!
Baseball
Let’s not go out to the ball game, and stay home where you can have access to corndogs, nachos, and drinks without shimmying through thousands of people. While you’re watching solid cheeses being pitched, you can stuff your face with cheese puffs, cheese boards, cheeseburgers, and so on…! If you’re wondering what station to tune into, you can get updates here. However, Fox, ESPN, and ABC channels are also broadcasting the league. Certain ‘big’ games will also be streamed on Apple TV+, HBO Max, Peacock, and ESPN+.
Tennis
There are many advantages to watching tennis matches with groups of people. With the likes of the US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open, and multiple other tournaments all year round, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize with friends and family. There’s a tennis website that’ll keep you updated on results and options to stream matches live. And is it just us who thinks tennis scoring is chaotic? We watch two or four people play until their legs literally give out, yet the point system behaves like a toddler who forgot what comes after 40? Time Magazine has similar thoughts, so at least we’re not alone on this!
Basketball
Are courtside seats worth the hype or could you enjoy watching basketball from home? You practically get a courtside viewpoint from the TV and don’t have to pay to sit on your own sofa! While you’re in offence mode, debating how many tickets you should purchase in 2026, we’re coming in with defense moves on why you should stay local! With so many great games on the horizon, your hosting calendar will be writing itself. ESPN and ABC network offer you broadcasting coverage options, while Amazon Prime and Peacock broaden your horizons: you can stream all the major games from any device. The sound of a swish through a stereo surround system will be the deciding factor in where you watch it. You can quote us on that if you wish!
Hockey
We’re bringing back the east vs west rivalry again with hockey coming to the table. Trading the rink for the living room has its perks: no travel, total volume control for every boarding whistle, and the ability to crank up the heat. Why freeze in the stands when you can witness the chaos from the comfort of your own home? As there’s different coverage options for regional and national matches, it’s best to check the official website for ways to watch. While the Stanley Cup is the endgame, pick up custom tumblers that’ll keep you hydrated in the meantime. You can pick any color, photo, and text to match your style; are there any other thermal cups that give you so much choice?
The Ins and Outs of Viewing Parties
Now that we’ve covered where to watch the big awards and games, it’s time to dive into how you can host the ultimate viewing party yourself. We’ll keep it brief as we discussed a lot of other things along the way. Whether it’s hiring a private chef in an Airbnb for a big game to gathering your friends for a backyard BBQ to watch a movie together, here’s a list of things you can use:
For Sporting Events
In: Wall Signs
In: Banners
In: Napkins
In: Tablecloths
In: Matching Team Color T-Shirts
For Movie and Award Nights
In: Party Favors
In: Ticket Stubs
In: Reel Posters
In: Welcome and Tabletop Signs
We’ve talked about what’s ‘in,’ but let’s be real about what’s out for 2026 viewing parties. Professional late-comers or hosts who think AC is optional – you’re on the list. Setting ground rules (and a guest list) isn’t mean; it’s a public service. Save the group from the loud mouth who ruins the ambiance, and keep the energy high!
The 2026 Viewing Party Vibe Check
Out: The “human distraction” who talks over every play.
Out: Friends who arrive empty-handed and leave with a full stomach.
Out: Thinking a live game has a pause button for your late arrival.
Out: Floor seating and “natural ventilation” (buy a fan, Jessica).
We’ve rounded up the ultimate lineup of events and everything you need to host the perfect bash! We hope your favorite actor, athlete, movie, play, or team get the win they thoroughly deserve. Let’s see what’s to come in sports and entertainment in 2026!
Hazel is a content specialist that reigns from the amazing land of Cork, Ireland. If her natural red hair doesn’t showcase her Irish roots, her love of humor and spontaneous outbursts would be a clear indicator. When she’s not looking out for her amazing team mates, she’s usually re-writing song lyrics – tirelessly trying to incorporate them into her writing pieces. She has a quirky, lively, and caring personality and her little dog Eddie makes her the happiest overall.
