*Hollywood’s most prestigious awards ceremony is getting a new address. The Academy Awards will relocate to the Peacock Theater starting in 2029, with the deal secured through 2039, Variety reports.
The Dolby Theatre has anchored the Oscars since 2002, with one notable disruption — the 2021 ceremony was staged at Union Station as health and safety concerns stemming from the pandemic forced a change of venue. The relocation is structured around a newly announced partnership between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and AEG, the entertainment giant behind L.A. Live, a sprawling district spanning 23 acres where the Peacock Theater sits.
Under the agreement, AEG will carry out wide-ranging renovations to the venue, overhauling everything from production infrastructure and technical systems to public-facing spaces and areas used by talent and crew. Custom design work tailored to the specific demands of the Oscars production is also part of the plan. Red carpet arrivals will take place on L.A. Live’s plaza, which has undergone recent expansion.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor voiced strong support for the move. “We are thrilled to partner with a global powerhouse like AEG. Their track record for building and operating technologically sophisticated live performance venues is unrivaled,” they said. “For the 101st Oscars and beyond, the Academy looks forward to closely collaborating with AEG to make L.A. Live the perfect backdrop for our global celebration of cinema, both for our live in-theater audience and for film fans around the world.”
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AEG Chief Revenue Officer Todd Goldstein matched that energy. “L.A. Live was built to host the moments that define culture, and there is no greater global stage than the Oscars,” Goldstein said. “We’re proud to partner with the Academy to reimagine what the Oscars can look and feel like in the years ahead. Together, we will create an environment that celebrates creativity, honors excellence, and delivers an unforgettable experience for movie fans everywhere.”
The venue shift arrives in tandem with an equally significant broadcasting change. The Oscars are walking away from ABC, a network that carried the show for decades, and moving to YouTube beginning in 2029 through 2033. The full production — red carpet, ceremony, and behind-the-scenes access — will be available to international audiences at no charge, with U.S. viewers tuning in through YouTube TV.
The Academy has framed the platform switch as a way to connect with the widest possible global audience, a priority that has grown more pressing as overall viewership numbers have trended downward in recent years.
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