The Oscars are preparing for a historic change of scenery, with the Academy announcing on Thursday that the worldโs most famous awards ceremony will leave Hollywood for a new home in downtown Los Angeles. Starting in 2029, the telecast will move from the Dolby Theatre to the Peacock Theater at the LA Live complexโ a transition that coincides with the ceremonyโs high-profile move from ABC to YouTube.
ย
The 10-year agreement with AEG marks the end of an era for the Dolby Theatre, which was originally developed specifically to house the Academy Awards. Since 2002, the Hollywood venue has provided the Oscars with its most stable home to date, barring a brief, pandemic-forced relocation to Union Station in 2021. Before settling in Hollywood, the awards were known for their nomadic history, famously alternating between the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Shrine Auditorium during the 1970s and 80s.
ย
The move to the Peacock Theater, situated 9 miles (14.5 kilometres) away from the Walk of Fame, offers a significant upgrade in scale. With a capacity of roughly 7,000, the new venue is nearly twice the size of the Dolby. It is more expansive, open-air plaza at LA Live is expected to provide a more versatile backdrop for the red carpet than the somewhat enclosed, shopping-mall atmosphere of the current Hollywood site. As part of the deal, AEG has committed to major technical upgrades and “bespoke design elements” to ensure the theatre meets the exacting standards of a global broadcast.
ย
Fans of the traditional Hollywood setting still have a few years to say their goodbyes. The Dolby will continue to host the ceremony through to the landmark 100th Academy Awards in 2028, which will serve as the grand finale for both the venue and the showโs long-running partnership with ABC. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor expressed their enthusiasm for the shift, noting that the modern infrastructure of downtown LA is the “perfect backdrop” for the next century of cinema celebrations.
ย
Also read: Oscars 2026: Jessie Buckley wins best actress