The Oscars are moving from Hollywood to downtown Los Angeles in 2029, coinciding with the ceremony’s switch from ABC to YouTube. After nearly three decades at the Dolby Theatre, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will relocate the awards to the Peacock Theater at the LA Live complex, operated by AEG, under a 10-year agreement.
The move comes as part of major planned upgrades at the theater, including technical improvements and bespoke design elements to accommodate the Oscars.
The Dolby Theatre, developed by the Academy and home to the Oscars since 2002, will continue hosting the awards through the 100th ceremony in 2028.
Previously, the Oscars rotated between various Los Angeles hotels and theaters, including the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (1968–1986) and the Shrine Auditorium.
The Peacock Theater, formerly the Nokia and Microsoft Theater, opened in 2007 next to the Crypto.com Arena, hosting the Emmys annually since 2008 and other major events like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
The new venue can hold about 7,000 people—twice the Dolby’s capacity—and offers a larger, open-air plaza compared to the more enclosed Ovation Hollywood complex.
LA Live also provides multiple nearby hotels and a cinema, though it lacks the historic character of Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor emphasized their excitement for the move, calling LA Live a “perfect backdrop” for celebrating cinema globally. The transition reflects both the Oscars’ evolving broadcast strategy and a desire to modernize the ceremony’s venue while retaining logistical convenience for guests and media. This relocation marks a historic shift, as the Oscars leave their longest-standing home and embrace a downtown setting with upgraded facilities, signaling a new era for the world’s most prestigious film awards. (PTI)
