Hollywood held its breath throughout the 97th Academy Awards—and for good motive. Sean Baker’s Anora shocked 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 larger stakes. The Oscars 2026 cycle is looming massive, with studios already eyeing the first 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

Tuesday, December 16, 2025- is the date for the carefully adopted shortlist announcement, as outlined in the Awards Rules and Campaign Promotional Regulations. With the reported addition of the brand-new Finest Casting class and at the 98th Oscars, classes like Visible Results, Sound, and extra will take heart 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 trade, the actual 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 really begins to take form!

When to count on the 2026 Oscar nominees checklist

Circle- Thursday, January 22, 2026. That’s when the world finds out who’s formally in the Oscars race. The announcement will observe a good voting window from January 12–16, 2026, and followers will get their first large have a look at the contenders.

It’s the second when buzzworthy contenders rise, whereas fan-favorite movies face the lower. The stress builds as 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 bear in mind. Finest Image hopefuls want to present proof of eligibility by September 10, 2025, for the first half of the 12 months and November 13 for the second.

Necessary deadlines additionally apply for tune and rating submissions. Music 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 reside on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. Catch all the glitz and drama because it airs on ABC, straight from Los Angeles.

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!

Which movie do you assume will dominate the 2026 Oscars race? Tell us in the feedback!