Oscars Set to Relocate from Hollywood
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Oscars will be leaving their Hollywood roots behind. Starting in 2029, the televised ceremony will switch from ABC to YouTube, and, more significantly, it will move from the Dolby Theatre to the Peacock Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, which is about nine miles away. The Academy announced on Thursday that it has secured a 10-year deal with AEG, the company that manages the LA Live complex where the Peacock Theatre is located.
This announcement comes as a bit of a shock. After all, the Dolby Theatre was developed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as the Oscars’ home. Since 2002, except for a scaled-back event at Union Station in 2021 due to the pandemic, the ceremony has been held there. This long tenure makes it unique; the Oscars have never stuck to one venue for so long. In its earlier days, the awards shuffled around different hotels in L.A. before finding stability in theatres during the 1940s.
Downtown’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, which was the home of the LA Opera, also holds a special place in Oscars history, hosting the awards from 1968 to 1986. The ceremony then switched back and forth between the Chandler and the Shrine Auditorium, located near the University of Southern California, until it finally moved to Hollywood.
The Dolby will still be the host for the final year on ABC, which will culminate with the 100th Academy Awards in 2028.
The Peacock Theatre is located next to Crypto.com Arena, where the Los Angeles Lakers and Kings play. This venue has been hosting the Emmy Awards nearly every year since 2008 and has also welcomed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in recent years.
According to a statement from the Academy, the agreement with AEG includes a commitment to significantly upgrade the theatre and its technical facilities, ensuring the incorporation of tailored design elements needed for the Oscars.
The Peacock Theatre, previously known as the Nokia Theatre and Microsoft Theatre, opened in 2007 as part of the LA Live entertainment complex. Its opening was celebrated with a concert featuring the Eagles and Chicks.
With a seating capacity of around 7,000, it can accommodate nearly double the number of guests compared to the Dolby. The surrounding plaza is larger and more open, contrasting with the Dolby’s more enclosed shopping mall vibe. Similar to Hollywood, LA Live also has various hotels that play a crucial role in Oscar logistics.
There’s a movie theatre nearby, but the Regal Theatre multiplex lacks the historic charm of the TCL (formerly Grauman’s) Chinese Theatre, which is right next to the Dolby on Hollywood Boulevard.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Chairman Lynette Howell Taylor expressed excitement about the move, stating, “The Academy looks forward to working closely with AEG to make LA Live the perfect setting for a global film festival for the 101st Oscars and beyond.”
