The Oscar nominations have been rescheduled due to the ongoing California wildfires, with the announcement now set for Jan. 23, a week later than originally planned, as confirmed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Monday. The decision to postpone the nominations was made in light of the devastating impact of the fires on the community.
Academy CEO and President expressed their solidarity with those affected by the fires, emphasizing the Academy's commitment to unity and support during challenging times. To accommodate members affected by the fires, the nominations voting period has been extended until Friday.
As a result of the wildfires, the annual nominees luncheon has been canceled, and the Scientific and Technical Awards, initially scheduled for Feb. 18, will be rescheduled for a later date.
The 97th Oscars ceremony is still set to take place on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre, with a live broadcast on ABC starting at 7 p.m. ET and a live stream on Hulu. This is not the first time the Oscars have faced delays; in 2021, nominations were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Historically, the Oscars have been rescheduled on several occasions, including a one-week delay in 1938 due to flooding in Los Angeles, a two-day delay in 1968 following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and a 24-hour delay in 1981 after President Ronald Reagan was shot in Washington D.C.
The 1981 decision to delay the ceremony was made just four hours before the scheduled broadcast was set to begin, highlighting the flexibility and adaptability of the Academy in response to unforeseen circumstances.
