Los Angeles Wildfires Force Second Delay for 2025 Oscars Nomination Announcement

Los Angeles, USA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced a second postponement for the unveiling of nominees for the 97th Academy Awards, citing the ongoing impact of wildfires causing widespread devastation across the Los Angeles area. The nomination announcement, a pivotal moment in the annual film awards season, will now take place on Thursday, January 23, 2025, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) / 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time (PT).

This marks the second adjustment to the nominations calendar. The date was initially set for Friday, January 17, before being moved to Sunday, January 19. The latest revision pushes the announcement back an additional four days, directly attributing the necessity of this change to the challenging conditions posed by the wildfires.

Despite this shift in the preliminary schedule, the Academy confirmed that the main event, the Oscars ceremony itself, remains firmly scheduled for Sunday, March 2, 2025. This assurance provides clarity amidst the disruption to the nominations timeline.

Timeline of Adjustments

The initial scheduling conflict or logistical consideration led the Academy to first move the nominations announcement from Friday, January 17, to Sunday, January 19. While the specifics of that initial change were not detailed in the provided information, the second postponement’s rationale is explicit and significant: the ongoing devastation caused by wildfires in Los Angeles. The impact of these blazes on the region’s infrastructure, safety, and overall environment has necessitated operational adjustments for many organizations, including the Academy.

The decision underscores the interconnectedness of major cultural events with the real-world conditions affecting the communities in which they are based. The Academy, headquartered in Los Angeles, is directly influenced by local circumstances, and the scale of the wildfire devastation clearly rose to a level requiring this exceptional measure.

Impact on Voting and Related Events

In tandem with the nomination announcement delay, the voting period for Academy members has also been affected. The nomination voting period, during which eligible members cast their ballots to determine the nominees in various categories, has been extended. The new deadline for submitting these votes is now Friday, January 17, 2025. This date is notable as it was the original scheduled date for the nominations announcement itself, highlighting the cascading effect of the calendar changes.

The revised schedule has also necessitated changes to other pre-nomination events crucial to certain categories. An planned International Feature Film Shortlist screening was among the events impacted, being either rescheduled or canceled outright. Similarly, several nominee presentations, often referred to informally as Bake-Offs, which are typically held for categories like Short Films, Documentary Features, and Animated Features, have also been subject to rescheduling or cancellation. These events allow Academy members to view and discuss the shortlisted entries before casting their votes, making their disruption significant for the films and filmmakers involved.

The Ceremony Proceeds

Despite the hurdles faced in finalizing the list of nominees, preparations for the main awards telecast are reportedly continuing. The 2025 Oscars ceremony is set to be hosted by acclaimed television personality Conan O’Brien. O’Brien’s selection as host adds a layer of anticipation for the telecast, promising a blend of humor and respect for the cinematic achievements being celebrated.

The 97th Academy Awards will air live on the ABC television network on the previously established date of Sunday, March 2, 2025. The live broadcast is scheduled to commence at 7 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) / 4 p.m. Pacific Time (PT), reaching audiences across the United States and internationally.

The Academy’s decision to delay the nominations but maintain the ceremony date suggests a strategy to allow sufficient time for voting and tabulation under difficult local conditions, while keeping the momentum towards the March awards show intact. The focus now shifts to the extended voting period and the rescheduled January 23rd announcement, as the film industry navigates these unexpected challenges on the road to the Oscars.