Inside the Oscars 2026 After-Party Menu Featuring 24K Liquid Gold Desserts And 7,000 Glasses Of Champagne

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The official after-party of the Academy Awards 2026 is almost as talked about as the ceremony itself. After the trophies are handed out, Hollywood's biggest stars head to the Governors Ball, where the focus shifts from red-carpet fashion to an elaborate food spread created specially for the evening.

Photo Credit: Image is AI-generated

At the 98th Academy Awards, the menu once again became a highlight of the night. This year, the dessert station grabbed attention for an extravagant detail: Chocolate Oscar statuettes finished with edible 24-karat liquid gold.

A Tradition Led By Wolfgang Puck

The culinary direction for the Governors Ball has long been led by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, who has overseen the Oscars after-party catering for more than three decades.

For the 2026 event, the scale of the operation reflected the size of Hollywood's biggest night. Around 1,500 guests attended the party, and the kitchen team included:

• About 75 savoury chefs
• 45 pastry chefs
• More than 300 service staff and managers

Together, they prepared a menu that blended gourmet fine dining with comforting crowd favourites.

The Dessert Station That Sparkled With Liquid Gold

One of the most photographed features of the night was the dessert display featuring chocolate Oscar statuettes.

Pastry chefs created roughly 2,000 miniature chocolate Oscars, which were finished at a special station where chefs sprayed them with edible 24-karat gold. In total, about two gallons of edible gold were used for the dessert presentation.

Guests could watch as the glossy gold coating was applied, turning each chocolate statue into a shimmering edible replica of the famous award.

A Dessert Spread Worthy Of Hollywood

The gold-sprayed chocolate Oscars were only one part of an extensive dessert table designed like a luxury patisserie.

Other desserts served at the Governors Ball included:

• Apple strudel inspired by Wolfgang Puck's mother's recipe
• Classic tiramisu
• Freshly baked madeleines
• Macarons and premium chocolate pastries
• Fresh gelato made on-site

The gelato station offered flavours such as pistachio, hazelnut and vanilla, along with sorbet options.

A Menu That Mixed Comfort Food With Luxury

While the desserts drew plenty of attention, the full menu featured more than 70 dishes served across several live stations.

Some of the highlights included:

• Wood-fired pizzas prepared fresh for guests
• Artichoke agnolotti pasta
• Kaluga caviar dishes
• Wagyu sliders and burgers
• Sushi and Japanese seafood grills
• Steak-frites carving stations

Behind the scenes, the scale of the evening was impressive. The kitchen reportedly prepared around 600 pizzas, served 3,000 portions of agnolotti, and poured roughly 7,000 glasses of champagne throughout the celebration.

Why The Governors Ball Menu Always Gets Attention

The Governors Ball has developed a reputation for combining glamour with playful culinary details. The food is designed to be elegant but practical, allowing celebrities to move around easily while sampling dishes from different stations.

Each year, a visually striking element often becomes the talking point. In 2026, it was the gold-coated chocolate Oscar desserts, which perfectly matched the glittering atmosphere of Hollywood's biggest night.

Long after the final award is announced, the Governors Ball continues the celebration - with food that is every bit as memorable as the ceremony itself.