Oscars 2026: Academy to end big-screen screenings of Oscar-nominated films for members

The Film Academy will no longer organise big-screen screenings of Oscar-nominated films for its members, marking a considerable shift away from a long-standing tradition tied closely to theatrical viewing. The change was communicated to members through the Academy’s January bulletin and has since sparked frustration among parts of its voting body.

For decades, the Academy hosted in-person screenings of awards contenders across major cities including Los Angeles, New York, London and the Bay Area. These events were held throughout the year and again after nominations were announced, offering members the opportunity to evaluate films in a theatrical setting. However, the Academy says attendance has steadily declined in recent years, particularly since the launch of its members-only streaming platform, the Academy Screening Room.

According to the organisation, post-nomination screenings have drawn extremely small crowds, with an average of just five members attending per screening over the past two years. The Academy noted that each event cost thousands of dollars to stage, prompting the decision to discontinue them altogether.

The move has upset some members, who argue that films designed for theatrical exhibition lose their impact when viewed at home. Several have pointed to large-scale productions such as Frankenstein and Avatar: Fire and Ash as examples of works that require a cinema environment to be fairly judged.

In response, the Academy has stressed that members already have multiple opportunities to watch nominated films on the big screen prior to nominations. These include commercial theatrical runs, official Academy screenings earlier in the season, and studio-hosted For Your Consideration events. Studios can now directly alert members to these screenings through a dedicated calendar on the Academy’s website.

All nominated films will continue to be available to members via the Academy Screening Room, ensuring access during the final voting period even without official theatrical rescreens.