Janelle Monáe and Billy Porter perform during the live ABC telecast of the 92nd Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 9th, 2020.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the ABC Television Network today announced the 93rd Oscars® ceremony will move to Sunday, April 25, 2021, as a result of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19. The show, which will air live on ABC, was originally scheduled for February 28, 2021.  Coinciding with the Oscars celebration, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, initially scheduled to open to the public on December 14, 2020, will now open on April 30, 2021, also as a result of the health crisis.

The 92nd Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 9th, 2020.

“For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times. They certainly have this year. Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyone’s control,” said Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “This coming Oscars and the opening of our new museum will mark a historic moment, gathering movie fans around the world to unite through cinema.” 

“We find ourselves in uncharted territory this year and will continue to work with our partners at the Academy to ensure next year’s show is a safe and celebratory event that also captures the excitement of the opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures,” said Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment.

During this time, it has become necessary to make exceptional changes to the Academy’s standard annual awards schedule.  The intent going forward is to ultimately return to awarding excellence for films released in the January-December calendar year. Future eligibility windows and the Oscar® show date for 2022 will be announced at a later date.

Academy key dates for the 2020/2021 Oscar season are as follows:

Preliminary voting beginsMonday, February 1, 2021
Preliminary voting endsFriday, February 5, 2021
Oscar Shortlists AnnouncementTuesday, February 9, 2021
Nominations voting beginsFriday, March 5, 2021
Nominations voting endsWednesday, March 10, 2021
Oscar Nominations AnnouncementMonday, March 15, 2021
Oscar Nominees LuncheonThursday April 15, 2021
Finals voting beginsThursday April 15, 2021
Museum GalaSaturday, April 17, 2021
Finals voting endsTuesday, April 20, 2021
OscarsOscar Sunday, April 25, 2021
Museum Public OpeningFriday, April 30, 2021