The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has approved the rules and campaign promotional regulations for the 98th Academy Awards®. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC on Sunday, March 15, 2026, starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
New Voting Requirements
To be eligible to vote in the final round of the Oscars®, Academy members must watch all nominated films in each category. All designated nominees will be included on the final ballot.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has approved the rules and campaign promotional regulations for the 98th Academy Awards®, which will be broadcast live on ABC on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
New Voting Requirements
To be eligible to vote in the final round of the Oscars®, Academy members must watch all nominated films in each category in which they cast a vote. All designated nominees will be included on the final ballot, reinforcing transparency and comprehensive viewing within each branch and across the membership.
Introduction of the Achievement in Casting Award
Category rules have been set for the new Academy Award® for Achievement in Casting, which recognizes the work of casting directors and their teams. The process includes:
- A preliminary vote to create a shortlist of ten films.
- Before nominations voting, members of the Casting Directors Branch will attend a “bake‑off” presentation of the shortlisted titles, including a Q&A session with the teams involved.
This new category complements the work of casting professionals already represented by organizations such as the Casting Society and aligns with prior recognition from guilds like the Producers Guild of America (PGA) and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG‑AFTRA).
Changes to Awards Rules
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The rules clarify that AI and other digital tools neither advantage nor disadvantage a film’s awards prospects. Films will be evaluated based on the human creativity involved, consistent with the Academy’s emphasis on artists and craftspeople across branches such as Writers, Directors, Visual Effects, and Film Editors.
Best Picture Eligibility and PGA Certification
For eligibility in Best Picture, films must align with date‑specific requirements tied to PGA certification or awards‑only determination:
- Films released January 1 – June 30, 2025 must provide proof of submission to the Producers Guild of America by September 10, 2025.
- Films released July 1 – December 31, 2025 must submit proof by November 13, 2025.
These rules further integrate recognition from the PGA Awards into Oscar consideration.
Animated Short Film Voting
All Academy members who opt to vote in Animated Short Film must watch all 15 shortlisted titles before casting a ballot, reinforcing parity with viewing standards already in place for branches like Documentary and International Feature Film.
Cinematography Category
The Cinematographers Branch will now oversee a preliminary round producing a shortlist of 10 to 20 films for the Cinematography Oscar, mirroring shortlist processes already used in categories such as Visual Effects and Makeup and Hairstyling.
International Feature Film
Eligibility for International Feature Film now explicitly includes filmmakers with refugee or asylum status. The submitting country must confirm that creative control resides with citizens, residents, or individuals with officially recognized refugee/asylum status, reinforcing the global and inclusive mission of the category.
Music Categories
In the music races overseen by the Music Branch:
- The Original Song submission deadline is October 15, 2025.
- Original Score submissions are due by November 3, 2025.
These dates align the Oscars calendar with other key music‑industry timelines, including those of the Recording Academy / GRAMMY Awards.
Important Dates for the 2025 Oscars Season
| Event | Deadline/Date |
|---|---|
| First submission deadline for Animated Short Film, Documentary Feature and Short Films, Live Action Short Film categories | August 14, 2025 |
| First submission deadline for General Entry categories, Animated Feature Film, Best Picture and RAISE form | September 10, 2025 |
| Submission deadline for International Feature Film | October 1, 2025 |
| Student Academy Awards | October 6, 2025 |
| Final submission deadline for Animated Short Film, Documentary Short Film, Live Action Short Film categories | October 9, 2025 |
| Submission deadline for Music (Original Song) | October 15, 2025 |
| Final submission deadline for Documentary Feature Film | October 16, 2025 |
| Submission deadline for Music (Original Score) | November 3, 2025 |
| Final submission deadline for General Entry categories | November 13, 2025 |
| Governors Awards | November 16, 2025 |
| Preliminary voting begins | December 8, 2025 |
| Preliminary voting ends | December 12, 2025 |
| Oscars Shortlists Announcement | December 16, 2025 |
| Casting, Makeup & Hairstyling, Sound, and Visual Effects nominating bake-offs | January 10 & 11, 2026 |
| Nominations voting begins | January 12, 2026 |
| Nominations voting ends | January 16, 2026 |
| Oscars Nominations Announcement | January 22, 2026 |
| Oscars Nominees Event | February 10, 2026 |
| Finals voting begins | February 26, 2026 |
| Finals voting ends | March 5, 2026 |
| 98th Oscars ceremony | March 15, 2026 |
| Scientific and Technical Awards ceremony | April 28, 2026 |
Updates to Campaign Promotional Regulations
The Academy clarified that:
- Oscar®-qualifying film festivals may now use approved mailing houses to share festival programming information with Academy members.
- Public communications, including social media posts, must not disparage the techniques or subject matter of any motion picture.
- Violations may result in penalties for Academy members or associated individuals.
All rules and dates for the 98th Academy Awards® remain subject to change.
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