The Academy Awards will move from Hollywood to downtown Los Angeles starting in 2029, marking a significant venue shift for the film industry’s most prominent awards ceremony. The relocation coincides with the telecast’s transition from ABC to YouTube, reflecting broader changes in both distribution strategy and event staging.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed it has signed a 10-year agreement with AEG to host the ceremony at the Peacock Theater, located within the L.A. Live entertainment complex.
Venue Transition and Industry Strategy
The move ends the Oscars’ long-standing run at the Dolby Theatre, which has hosted the ceremony since 2002. According to the Academy, the Dolby Theatre will remain the venue through the 100th ceremony in 2028, concluding its tenure during the show’s final years on ABC.
The shift to the Peacock Theater represents both a logistical and strategic recalibration. With a seating capacity of approximately 7,000—nearly double that of the Dolby—the new venue offers expanded scale for production, audience accommodation and global broadcast staging.
Industry observers note that the relocation aligns with the Academy’s broader effort to modernize the Oscars’ presentation, particularly as it transitions to a digital-first distribution model via YouTube.
The Peacock Theater sits adjacent to Crypto.com Arena and forms part of the larger L.A. Live complex, a major entertainment district that includes hotels, restaurants and event spaces. The area has increasingly hosted high-profile industry events, including the Primetime Emmy Awards and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The venue, which opened in 2007 and was previously known as the Nokia Theatre and Microsoft Theater, has established itself as a central site for televised entertainment events. Its larger open-air plaza and surrounding infrastructure provide expanded space for red carpet logistics and audience flow compared to the more compact Hollywood Boulevard setting.
Production Upgrades and Long-Term Agreement
Under the agreement, AEG will invest in significant upgrades to the Peacock Theater’s technical infrastructure to meet the specific demands of the Oscars broadcast. The Academy said it will work closely with the operator to integrate customized design elements tailored to the ceremony’s production scale.
The long-term deal underscores a shift toward purpose-built environments capable of accommodating evolving broadcast technologies, audience expectations and global streaming distribution.
Historical Context of Oscars Venues
While the Dolby Theatre has provided the Oscars with its most stable home, the ceremony has historically moved across multiple venues in Los Angeles. Earlier locations included major hotels, followed by extended runs at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from 1968 to 1986 and the Shrine Auditorium in subsequent years.
The upcoming relocation marks one of the most consequential venue changes in recent decades, reflecting both the evolution of Los Angeles as an entertainment capital and the Academy’s shifting priorities in a digital media landscape.
