2026 Oscars schedule: Important dates for awards ceremonies and nominations disclosed

The 2026 Academy Awards are approaching fast, and heres a complete guide to the crucial dates leading up to the ceremony. ABC will air the 98th Oscars on March 15, with comedian Conan O'Brien returning as host for a second year in a row.

Several award shows in the weeks before the Oscars can influence the race, including:

• Critics Choice Awards: January 4
• Golden Globes: January 11
• BAFTA Awards: February 22
• Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards: March 1

Winning at these events or delivering a standout speech can sometimes shift the momentum in Oscar races.

On April 21, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences introduced key rule changes. Members are now required to watch all nominated films in each category to vote in the final round, with monitoring through the Academy Screening Room platform. All nominees will also now be listed on final ballots, including songwriters and musicians for Best Song. Additionally, rules on Generative Artificial Intelligence were incorporated following recommendations from the Academys Science and Technology Council.

2026 Oscars Timeline

Here is the current schedule of major awards events and nomination announcements. Dates for ceremonies are bolded, and nomination announcements are in italics.

• April 29: Scientific and Technical Awards Ceremony
• October 8: Casting Society Awards (CSA) Nominations Announcement
• October 28: Gotham Film Awards Nominations Announcement
• November 16: Governors Awards Ceremony (Honorees: Debbie Allen, Tom Cruise, Wynn Thomas, Dolly Parton)
• November 19: Movies for Grownups with AARP Nominations Announcement
• December 3: Film Independent Spirit Nominations Announcement
• December 4: Critics Choice Association (CCA) TV Nominations Announcement
• December 5: Critics Choice Association (CCA) Film Nominations Announcement
• December 8: Golden Globes Nominations Announcement
• December 8: African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Winners Announced
• December 9: Producers Guild of America (PGA) Documentary Nominations Announcement
• December 12: Costume Designers Guild (CDG) Nominations Announcement
• December 12: Producers Guild of America (PGA) Nominations Announcement for Sports, Childrens, and Short Form
• December 29: Makeup and Hairstyling (MUAHS) Nominations Announcement
• January 2: Palm Springs International Film Awards Ceremony
• January 4: Critics Choice Association (CCA) Awards Ceremony
• January 5: Annie Awards Nominations Announcement
• January 5: Set Decorators Society of America (SDSA) Nominations Announcement
• January 7: Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Nominations Announcement
• January 7: Art Directors Guild (ADG) Nominations Announcement
• January 7: Directors Guild of America (DGA) Television, Commercial, and Documentary Nominations Announcement
• January 8: Directors Guild of America (DGA) Film Nominations Announcement
• January 9: American Film Institute (AFI) Awards Ceremony
• January 9: Producers Guild of America (PGA) Film and Television Major Categories Nominations Announcement
• January 10: Movies for Grownups with AARP Awards Ceremony
• January 12: Golden Reel Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Nominations Announcement
• January 13: Visual Effects Society (VES) Nominations Announcement
• January 14: Dorian (GALECA) Nominations Announcement
• January 20: Cinema Audio Society (CAS) Nominations Announcement
• January 22: Oscars Nominations Announcement
• January 27: American Cinema Editors (ACE) Nominations Announcement
• January 27: Writers Guild of America (WGA) Nominations Announcement
• February 7: Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards Ceremony
• February 12: Costume Designers Guild (CDG) Awards Ceremony
• February 14: Makeup and Hairstyling (MUAHS) Awards Ceremony
• February 15: Film Independent Spirit Awards Ceremony
• February 18: African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Awards Ceremony
• February 21: Set Decorators Society of America (SDSA) Awards Ceremony
• February 22: British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards Ceremony
• February 26: Casting Society Awards (CSA) Ceremony
• February 27: American Cinema Editors (ACE) Awards Ceremony
• February 28: Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards Ceremony
• February 28: Art Directors Guild (ADG) Awards Ceremony
• March 1: Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards Ceremony
• March 3: Dorian (GALECA) Awards Ceremony
• March 7: Cinema Audio Society (CAS) Awards Ceremony
• March 8: Writers Guild of America (WGA) Awards Ceremony
• March 8: Golden Reel Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Awards Ceremony

Some 2026 dates are still pending, including the Advanced Imaging Society (Lumiere) Awards, American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Awards, and Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards.

Stay updated on all announcements by following Gold Derby on social media.

Analysis: The Road to the 2026 Oscars

As the 98th Academy Awards approach on March 15, the race for Oscars momentum is more structured than ever. With Conan O'Brien returning as host, ABC will present a ceremony shaped not only by the nominees but by the outcomes of several precursor awards. Critics Choice, Golden Globes, BAFTA, and SAG Awards all carry significant influence in shaping industry expectations.

The Academy's recent rule changes, announced on April 21, introduce a new level of accountability. Members must now view all nominated films in each category through the Academy Screening Room to vote, and all contributors—including songwriters and musicians—will appear on final ballots. The inclusion of guidelines on Generative AI reflects ongoing technological oversight within the industry.

The timeline of awards and nomination announcements, spanning from October to early March, shows the dense calendar leading up to the Oscars. While some events, such as the ASC and Lumiere Awards, remain pending, the established schedule highlights the interconnected nature of awards season, where each ceremony can subtly shift voter perception and momentum.

Overall, this structured progression emphasizes that the 2026 Oscars are not a single-night event but the culmination of months of industry recognition and strategic campaigning. Observing trends across these events can provide insight into likely frontrunners and emerging favorites.

Sources:

• 2026 Oscars calendar: Key dates for awards shows, nominations announcements