Oscar Nominations Delayed Due to Ongoing California Wildfires, New Date Set for Jan. 23

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a delay in the announcement of this year’s Oscar nominations, pushing the original date back nearly a week due to the ongoing California wildfires. The nominations will now be revealed on January 23, the Academy confirmed on Monday.

“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses experienced by so many in our community,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement. “The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of hardship.”
With wildfires still affecting the Los Angeles area, the Academy also extended the voting period for its members through Friday. The nominations, originally scheduled for Jan. 23, will now coincide with the rescheduled announcement.

In addition to the nominations delay, the Academy has canceled its annual nominees luncheon, known for its “class photos” of Oscar hopefuls. The Scientific and Technical Awards, initially set for February 18, will also be rescheduled.

Meanwhile, the Writers Guild of America has postponed its nominations announcement, which was originally set for January 9 and later moved to Monday, citing similar concerns. The Writers Guild ceremony is now slated for February 15.

Despite the disruptions, the 97th Academy Awards are still scheduled for March 2 at the Dolby Theatre, with a live broadcast on ABC at 7 p.m. ET and a livestream available on Hulu. This is not the first time Oscar nominations have been delayed. In 2021, the pandemic forced a similar postponement.