The Academy has cancelled all in-person Oscar screenings for members, making digital viewing permanent. Here’s how the rule change impacts Oscars 2026.
The Academy has cancelled all in-person Oscar screenings for members [Photo: X]
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has quietly introduced a permanent change to its Oscar voting process, deciding to end all in-person screenings for nominated films. While the decision was communicated to Academy members earlier this year, it has now triggered strong reactions from within the organisation as voting for the 2026 Oscars gets underway.
The move reflects a broader shift in how Academy members watch and evaluate films, away from theatres and towards digital platforms, but it has also reopened a long-running debate about whether movies, especially large-scale productions, can be fairly judged outside the cinema experience.
Under the new permanent rule, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will no longer host any in-person screenings of Oscar-nominated films for its members after nominations are announced. Earlier, the Academy regularly organised official post-nomination screenings in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, London and the Bay Area to help voters watch nominated films on the big screen before casting their final votes.
From now on, Academy members will have to rely on digital viewing through the Academy Screening Room, studio-organised For Your Consideration (FYC) screenings, or regular commercial theatrical releases, where available. The Academy said it took this step after noticing consistently low attendance at post-nomination screenings, which made the events costly and inefficient to run.
The decision marks a clear shift in the Oscar voting process, signalling that streaming and at-home viewing have become the primary mode of film evaluation for members. While the Academy believes this approach better reflects modern viewing habits and saves resources, some members argue that the change could affect how certain films are judged, especially those designed for a large-screen experience.
For decades, the Academy organised official screenings of Oscar-contending films in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, London and the Bay Area. These screenings allowed members to watch nominated films together on the big screen, often followed by discussions.
However, attendance has steadily declined. According to the Academy, post-nomination screenings now draw extremely small audiences, making them costly and inefficient to organise. In the last two years, turnout dropped to an average of just five members per screening, despite significant logistical expenses.
Faced with shrinking participation, the Academy chose to cancel all post-nomination screenings permanently and redirect members to digital viewing options instead.
Traditionally, screenings played a critical role in the Oscar process. They ensured members had equal access to nominated films, especially smaller or international titles that might not receive wide theatrical releases.
The system began to change sharply over the past seven years, particularly after the Academy launched its members-only streaming platform, the Academy Screening Room. This service allows voters to watch eligible films at home, at their convenience, a shift that significantly reduced the need for in-person events.
Under the new system, Academy members can watch all nominated films through:
Studios can now notify members about FYC screenings through a centralised calendar on the Academy’s website, further reducing reliance on Academy-hosted events.
The timing of the decision has upset several members, particularly as Oscar voting is currently underway. Critics argue that watching films at home undermines the artistic intent of certain productions.
Some members insist that visually ambitious films — including titles like Frankenstein and Avatar: Fire and Ash — demand theatrical viewing for proper evaluation. They believe that home screens, regardless of size or quality, cannot replicate the cinematic experience.
The Academy, however, maintains that members had ample opportunities to watch these films in theatres before nominations were announced, either through Academy screenings, studio events or regular commercial runs.
Here’s the entire letter from the Academy to its members:
"Dear Academy members,
Thank you for your dedication and participation this Oscars season. We hope all of you were able to watch the Oscars Nominations Announcement this week. It was historic!
Over the last several months, we were thrilled to host for members more than 300 first-run Oscar-qualifying film screenings in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, New York and London. This included nominated films as well as all shortlisted International Feature films and the shortlisted films in our three short film categories. Many thanks to all members who participated.
In addition, we have increased member connectivity to FYC screenings by our industry partners via our FYC screenings calendar on the member site. It’s been incredible to see the commitment from industry partners to providing additional opportunities for members to see these films on the big screen. If you have not opted in for this function yet, please do so on the member site.
Moving forward, as turnout for our post-nomination screenings has been incredibly small over the last few years (an average of five members attended these screenings in the last two years), we will not rescreen these films. Please note that, in addition to FYC screening opportunities, all nominated films are available for members to watch on the Academy Screening Room.
Thank you for taking advantage of all these offerings — we appreciate your continued support and passion for watching movies!
Thank you,
The Academy"
The decision raises questions about fair evaluation, especially for films that rely heavily on sound design, visual effects and scale. While digital access improves convenience, critics worry it could influence how voters emotionally connect with certain movies.
Supporters of the move argue that modern viewing habits have changed permanently, and the Academy must adapt rather than preserve traditions that no longer serve most members.
As the Academy continues to modernise its processes, this decision signals a lasting transformation in how the world’s most prestigious film awards operate.
