Academy ends nominee screenings as attendance sharply falls

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided to stop hosting post-nominations screenings for Oscar-nominated films. This change applies to the 2026 Oscars. The decision came after low attendance at these events.

Low turnout leads to change

Academy members attended an average of five screenings in the last two years. Attendance dropped since the launch of the members-only Academy Screening Room seven years ago. This streaming service lets members watch films at home.The Academy announced the move in its Bulletin emailed to members last month. The statement read, “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.”

Nominated films remain available on the Academy Screening Room, along with FYC screening opportunities.

Criticism from members

Some members argue the decision hurts films meant for big screens. They point to movies like Frankenstein and Avatar: Fire and Ash, which feature sweeping visuals. These works lose impact on television screens, members say. The Academy focuses on motion pictures, yet shifts to small-screen viewing for voting.

Updated voting rules

For the 2026 Oscars, members must watch all nominated films in a category to vote in the final round. The Academy tracks views via the Screening Room app. For films seen elsewhere, like festivals or private events, members submit a form with details (which movie or which actor they wish to nominate)This rule expands from past use in categories like international feature and animated feature. Final ballots now list all designated nominees, not just film titles.

Final voting opens February 26 and ends March 5, 2026.Nominations come after the shortlist phase. The ceremony airs live ahead of the March 5 voting close. Other changes include a new Achievement in Casting award and AI guidelines for films.The shift seems permanent as a tradition of in-person events in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and London. It reflects broader trends in how members access films.