Hollywood held its breath throughout the 97th Academy Awards—and for good motive. Sean Baker’s Anora surprised with 5 wins, whereas performing classes noticed dramatic turns nobody noticed coming. If the Oscars 2025 ceremony proved something, it’s that nothing is predictable anymore. With brassy indies topping studio titans, everyone seems to be watching the calendar. One season ends, however one other quietly takes its place, with even better stakes. The Oscars 2026 cycle is looming massive, with studios already eyeing the primary key deadlines.
The Academy has sealed the Oscars 2026 schedule, and the countdown to the subsequent ceremony has begun. Here’s a have a look at what’s forward, with key dates now set, together with nominations and shortlists.
Oscars 2026 shortlists and voting poll window locked in
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues beneath this advert
Tuesday, December 16, 2025- is the date for the carefully adopted shortlist announcement, as outlined within the Awards Guidelines and Marketing campaign Promotional Laws. With the reported addition of the brand-new Greatest Casting class and on the 98th Oscars, classes like Visible Results, Sound, and extra will take middle stage, giving rise to watercooler arguments as followers and critics alike scramble to guess which movies are about to make their Oscar run!
With each main 2025 Oscars win nonetheless echoing throughout the business, the true warmth begins earlier when preliminary voting kicks off on December 8 and closes by December 12, 2025. Right here is when frontrunners begin to kind and the Oscars 2026 race truly begins to take form!
When to count on the 2026 Oscar nominees listing
Circle- Thursday, January 22, 2026. That’s when the world finds out who’s formally within the Oscars race. The announcement will observe a good voting window from January 12–16, 2026, and followers will get their first huge have a look at the contenders.
It’s the second when buzzworthy contenders rise, whereas fan-favorite movies face the reduce. The stress builds because the race to the gold intensifies.
Main submission deadlines set for 98th Oscars eligibility
The Oscars have strict deadlines, and movies should meet particular necessities to be eligible. For filmmakers with an Oscar dream, there are some key dates to recollect. Greatest Image hopefuls want to point out proof of eligibility by September 10, 2025, for the primary half of the yr and November 13 for the second.
Essential deadlines additionally apply for music and rating submissions. Tune entries? Due Oct 15. Rating entries? Nov 3. It’s a tight schedule, and lacking a deadline means lacking the Oscars.
Oscars 2026 ceremony date time and broadcast particulars
It’s official. The 98th Academy Awards will go dwell on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. Catch all of the glitz and drama because it airs on ABC, straight from Los Angeles.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues beneath this advert
The Academy confirmed the date of their official press launch, retaining the custom alive with a Sunday night time celebration of cinema’s best moments. A show of red-carpet moments, impassioned speeches, and memorable surprises will unfold on Hollywood’s grandest stage, the place movie historical past will as soon as once more be made and celebrated!
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues beneath this advert
Which movie do you suppose will dominate the 2026 Oscars race? Tell us within the feedback!
