The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled significant updates to its awards regulations, promotional campaign rules, and key dates for the 98th Oscars, set to take place on March 15, 2026. The changes aim to enhance the integrity of the voting process and broaden inclusivity within the film industry.
The nomination voting period is scheduled to run from January 12 to January 16, 2026, with the official nominees announced on January 22. Following this, the annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon will occur on February 10, leading up to the final voting session from February 26 to March 5, 2026, ten days before the live event.
Among the notable updates is a new requirement mandating that Academy members must watch all nominated films in a category to cast their votes in the final round. This procedural change, while seemingly obvious, raises questions about the Academy's ability to enforce compliance. According to the Academy, members will access final round ballots only for categories where they confirm viewing all nominated films. To facilitate this, the Academy will utilize its exclusive Academy Screening Room streaming service to track members' viewing habits.
For films viewed at festivals, screenings, or private events, members will need to fill out a form detailing the viewing circumstances, a verification method previously used in preliminary voting for certain categories. This expansion aims to minimize uninformed voting and ensure that voters engage with the nominated works.
Additionally, a significant change is the introduction of an Achievement in Casting award, which will honor the collaborative effort of casting directors, filmmakers, and producers in creating a film’s cast. The Casting Directors Branch will evaluate eligible films, shortlist up to ten, and showcase them at a “Bake-Off” event where branch members will review five-minute reels and engage in Q&As with the casting directors. This new award aims to recognize the vital role casting plays in filmmaking.
To be eligible for this award, casting directors of shortlisted films must provide a detailed description of their casting processes, along with a photo grid or complete cast list. The Branch Executive Committee will identify up to two main individuals responsible for the casting to be credited, with a possibility of a third in special cases, pending Board of Governors’ approval.
In addition to the casting award, the cinematography award will also be part of the shortlist process, with the Cinematographers Branch naming 10 to 20 films for consideration. Voting for all shortlist categories, which now include sound, visual effects, and makeup and hairstyling, will take place from December 8 to December 12, 2025. Currently, 12 artisan categories utilize shortlists, with only a few categories still determined through the nomination phase.
The Academy has also issued inaugural guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in filmmaking. These new rules specify that generative AI and other digital tools will not influence a film’s nomination prospects, emphasizing the importance of human creative involvement in the filmmaking process. For Best Picture consideration, films released in the first half of 2025 must submit documentation to the Producers Guild of America by September 10, while those released in the second half must submit by November 13.
Additional changes to the submission deadlines include: October 15 for original song, November 3 for original score, and new eligibility criteria for international filmmakers, now encompassing those who are refugees or have asylum status. Moreover, Oscar-qualifying film festivals can now utilize approved mailing houses to distribute festival programming information to Academy members.
The 2025 Oscars season is set to kick off in August, culminating in the live broadcast in March. The complete schedule of submission deadlines, voting periods, and special events is available on the official Oscars website. The upcoming film lineup is promising, featuring works by notable directors such as Guillermo del Toro, Chloé Zhao, Yorgos Lanthimos, and the Safdie brothers, likely to generate significant interest and competition.
However, the new voting requirements have raised eyebrows among industry observers. Starting next year, Oscar voters will be required to watch all the movies in a category before making their final-round picks, a change that many believe should have been implemented long ago. Critics argue that the integrity of Oscar voting has been compromised in the past, with some voters admitting to casting ballots without having seen all nominees. This new rule, while a step in the right direction, may not completely resolve the long-standing issues of how nominations are determined.
As the Academy implements these changes, the focus remains on enhancing the overall fairness of the voting process, particularly for lower-profile films that struggle to gain visibility. The Academy's commitment to tracking what voters watch through the digital screening room and requiring forms for private viewings represents an effort to hold members accountable. Yet, the enforceability of these measures remains a concern, with some industry insiders questioning whether the honor system will be effective.
Despite these challenges, the Academy's updates signal a willingness to adapt and improve the Oscars process. Observers hope that these changes will lead to a more equitable representation of films and filmmakers, ensuring that all nominated works receive the attention and consideration they deserve. While there is still a long way to go in addressing the complexities of the Oscars, the introduction of these new rules marks a significant shift towards greater accountability and transparency.
As the countdown to the 98th Academy Awards begins, the film industry watches closely to see how these changes will impact the awards landscape. Will the new voting requirements lead to a more informed electorate, or will they simply add another layer of complexity to an already intricate process? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the Oscars are evolving, and the stakes have never been higher.
