Listen to the article
The Oscars are leaving Hollywood.
In 2029, when the Academy Awards ceremony transitions from ABC to YouTube, it will also move from its longtime home at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood to the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Thursday it has secured a 10-year agreement with AEG, which operates the L.A. Live entertainment complex where the Peacock Theater is located.
The decision represents a significant shift for the prestigious awards show, as the Dolby Theatre was specifically developed by the Academy to serve as the permanent home for the Oscars. Since 2002, the ceremony has been held at the Dolby, with the only exception being the scaled-down 2021 event at Union Station during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This unprecedented stability in venue choice is now coming to an end. Prior to the Dolby, the Academy Awards had a history of changing locations, initially moving between various Los Angeles hotels in its early years before transitioning to theaters in the mid-1940s.
From 1968 to 1986, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, a fine arts facility that houses the LA Opera, became strongly associated with the Oscars. Following this period, the ceremony alternated between the Chandler and the Shrine Auditorium near the University of Southern California until the establishment of its long-term residency in Hollywood.
The Dolby will continue to host the ceremony during its final years on ABC, culminating with the 100th Academy Awards in 2028 before the historic move downtown.
The Peacock Theater, situated adjacent to Crypto.com Arena (home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kings), has already established itself as a venue for high-profile entertainment events. It has hosted the Emmy Awards nearly every year since 2008 and recently served as the venue for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
According to the Academy’s announcement, AEG will implement substantial upgrades to the theater and its technological infrastructure as part of the agreement. The two organizations will “collaborate closely to incorporate bespoke design elements needed to accommodate the Oscars ceremony,” suggesting significant modifications to tailor the space specifically for the awards show.
Previously known as the Nokia Theatre and later the Microsoft Theater, the Peacock Theater opened in 2007 as part of the expansion of what was then the Staples Center site into the larger L.A. Live entertainment complex. The venue’s inaugural events included concerts by the Eagles and the Chicks.
With a capacity of approximately 7,000 seats, the Peacock Theater offers nearly double the seating of the Dolby Theatre. Its plaza is more spacious and open compared to the Dolby’s Ovation Hollywood complex, which has been described as having a more enclosed shopping mall atmosphere. Similar to Hollywood, L.A. Live features multiple hotels, which are essential for the logistical demands of hosting the Oscars.
The L.A. Live complex does include a cinema with its Regal theaters multiplex, though it lacks the historic significance of the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly known as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre) located adjacent to the Dolby on Hollywood Boulevard.
“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,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor in a joint statement.
This move downtown represents not just a change in location but potentially a new era for the Oscars as it approaches its second century, coinciding with its transition to digital streaming on YouTube after nearly six decades on network television.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
I’m curious to see how this move will impact the Oscars viewership and relevance. Shifting to a downtown venue could make the ceremony feel more accessible to the general public, but it may also lose some of the exclusivity and glamour that has defined the Oscars over the years.
That’s a good point. The Oscars have always had an aura of exclusivity, so moving to a more public venue could change the dynamic. The Academy will need to strike the right balance between accessibility and prestige.
This is a bold move by the Academy. I wonder if it signals a broader shift in the entertainment industry, with major awards shows moving away from traditional venues. It could open up new creative possibilities, but also risks losing some of the ceremony’s iconic status.
The Oscars have always had a connection to Hollywood, so this shift to downtown LA is notable. I’m curious to see how the ceremony and atmosphere will change in the new venue. Will it feel more disconnected from the industry’s roots?
Good point. The Dolby Theatre had that classic Hollywood glamour. The Peacock Theater will likely have a different vibe, perhaps more modern and urban. It will be interesting to see if the Academy can maintain the prestige and grandeur of the Oscars in this new setting.
While the Dolby Theatre has been the Oscars’ home for over 20 years, a change of venue isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Peacock Theater could offer new possibilities in terms of production, technology, and audience experience. However, the Academy will need to be careful not to lose the Oscars’ legacy and prestige in the process.
Interesting move, though a bit surprising given the Dolby Theatre’s long association with the Oscars. I wonder what factors led the Academy to make this change and what the Peacock Theater will offer that the Dolby couldn’t.
Perhaps it’s to align the Oscars more with digital/streaming platforms as the industry evolves. The Peacock Theater must have some advantages the Academy felt were worth the switch.