Oscars Set Dates for 99th and 100th Ceremonies on ABC

For anyone who has spent a Tuesday afternoon navigating the gridlock of downtown Los Angeles, the Oscars are more than just a glittering telecast. they are a logistical behemoth that shapes the city’s rhythm. But as the dust settles on the 98th ceremony, the landscape of Hollywood’s biggest night is shifting in a way that feels profoundly symbolic of the digital age. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has finally locked in the dates for the final two broadcasts on ABC, signaling the end of a five-decade partnership that defined how the world consumed movie magic. For those of us here in LA, this isn’t just a change in channel—it’s a change in geography and a massive pivot in how the city’s primary cultural export is delivered to the globe.

The Final Countdown: 2027 and 2028

The roadmap is now clear. The 99th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 14, 2027, and the milestone 100th Oscars will take place on March 5, 2028. These two dates mark the twilight of the Oscars’ tenure on ABC. While the network has been the longtime home for the ceremony, the industry is bracing for a total transformation. Starting with the 101st ceremony in 2029, the Oscars are moving to YouTube. This multi-year deal, which runs through 2033, gives the streaming giant exclusive global rights, fundamentally altering the viewing experience from a traditional linear broadcast to a free, live digital event.

This transition isn’t happening in a vacuum. We’ve already seen the ripples of this “streaming migration” across other major awards. Netflix began airing the Actor Awards (formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards) back in 2024, and the 97th Oscars already tested the waters by airing live on Hulu alongside the ABC broadcast. The move to YouTube is a calculated bet on accessibility. By leveraging features like closed captioning and audio tracks in multiple languages, the Academy is chasing a growing global audience that no longer waits for a scheduled time slot on a cable network.

Ratings Volatility and the Digital Push

The decision to abandon ABC is rooted in a complex relationship with viewership. The numbers have been a rollercoaster. The 2025 ceremony hit a five-year high with 19.7 million viewers, showing a strong recovery from the pandemic slump. However, the 98th Oscars, which aired last month, saw a 9% dip in ratings. This volatility suggests that while the “event” nature of the Oscars still draws a crowd, the traditional broadcast model is struggling to maintain a steady grip on the audience.

The 98th ceremony, hosted by the return of Conan O’Brien, provided a glimpse of the current cinematic mood. It was a night of significant wins, with “One Battle After Another” claiming both best picture and director. Michael B. Jordan took home best actor for his role in “Sinners,” and Jessie Buckley won best actress for “Hamnet.” Despite these high-profile wins, the “dramatic growth” Disney noted among younger audiences on digital devices confirmed that the future of the Oscars isn’t on a television set—it’s on a screen in a pocket.

A New Home in Downtown LA

Perhaps the most tangible change for Los Angeles residents is the physical relocation of the event. For years, the Dolby Theatre has been the epicenter of Oscar Sunday. However, the Academy has announced a move to the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles as part of a 10-year agreement with AEG. This shift moves the center of gravity for the event, potentially impacting everything from local hotel bookings to traffic patterns around the downtown core.

The transition to the Peacock Theater, combined with the shift to YouTube, represents a broader effort to modernize the “Oscar experience.” The YouTube deal isn’t just about the main ceremony; it extends to the red carpet, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive access to the Governors Ball. It too brings other Academy staples—like the nominations announcement, the nominees luncheon, and the Scientific and Technical Awards—under one digital roof. For the local production community, this means a shift in how event production services are scaled and executed, moving away from the constraints of traditional network television toward the flexibility of a global streaming platform.

The Logistics of the Transition

Despite the upcoming move to YouTube in 2029, the final two ABC broadcasts will maintain the familiar timing of 7 p.m. Eastern and 4 p.m. Pacific. This consistency provides a bridge for the legacy audience while the Academy builds the infrastructure for a digital-first future. The move to a 10-year deal with AEG for the Peacock Theater suggests that the Academy is looking for long-term stability in its physical footprint, even as its digital footprint expands exponentially.

Navigating the Shift: A Local Resource Guide

Given my background in analyzing the intersection of entertainment and local infrastructure, it’s clear that this shift toward streaming and new venue logistics will create a ripple effect for businesses and freelancers across Los Angeles. If you are a professional in the creative or event space and this trend toward digital-first broadcasting mirrors the challenges you’re facing in your own business, you necessitate a specific set of local expertise to stay competitive.

Depending on where you fit into the production ecosystem, here are the three types of local professionals you should be consulting right now:

Digital Distribution & Streaming Strategists

As the Oscars move to YouTube, the demand for experts who understand global digital rights and streaming architecture will skyrocket. Look for consultants who specialize in the YouTube API and multi-language accessibility. They should have a proven track record of transitioning linear content to digital-first platforms without losing audience engagement.

Large-Scale Event Logistics Specialists

The move to the Peacock Theater requires a new understanding of downtown LA’s infrastructure. You need professionals who are well-versed in AEG venue specifications and have deep ties with city planning departments to manage the massive influx of traffic and security requirements that approach with a global event.

Awards Season Publicity Consultants

With the voting timeline and the way nominations are announced shifting toward a more integrated digital experience, the “campaign” side of the Oscars is changing. Seek out strategists who understand how to leverage digital content to influence Academy members and can navigate the specific timelines announced by the Academy Press Office.

The evolution of the Oscars is a microcosm of the evolution of Los Angeles itself—a city that built its empire on the silver screen and is now redefining itself for the streaming era. Whether you’re a fan watching from home or a professional working behind the scenes, the road to the 101st Oscars starts with these final two steps on ABC.

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