The Academy of Arts and Cinema Sciences announced on Monday rules and campaign rules for the 98th Oscars to come, which will be held on March 15, 2026. The chief among the changes is a new procedural request that voters must now watch all the nominated films in each category in order to be eligible to vote in the final round. How they expect the members prove They looked at not stated in the AMPAS version today, but it is a key change in rules that have never presented it like that before.
Another change – and welcome – is that all the designated nominees will have their names included in the final ballot. Previously. In many categories. It was just the name of the nominated film, not the nominated person.
Meanwhile, the category rules for eligibility and vote for the first prize of the Academy for Casting Success were codified. There will be a preliminary voting series to determine a restricted list of 10 films, and before the applications, the members of the branch of casting directors will be invited to see a “cooking” presentation of the preselected achievements, including a Q&R with the designated candidates. There is still no mention on the place where the inaugural casting Oscar is presented, whether on the spectacle of the Oscars itself, during the prices of governors, or in another place.
Other changes in substantive rules
In cinema eligibility rules, the following language concerning generative artificial intelligence (IA) has been introduced, as recommended by the Academy’s Science and Technology Council:
With regard to generative artificial intelligence and other digital tools used in the production of the film, the tools do not help or harm the chances of obtaining an appointment. The academy and each branch will judge success, taking into account the extent to which a human was at the heart of creative fatherhood when choosing the film to be attributed.
To consider in the category of the best films, films released from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025, must have shown proof of submission for the certification of producers of Guild of America (PGA) or a determination only at the awards no later than September 10, 2025. The films released from July 1, 2025, until December 31, 2025, must have shown proof of the PGA bid no later from November 13, 2025.
In the category of short animation films, voting privileges in the appointment will be extended to all the members of the Academy who oppose to participate. Members must see the 15 preselected films to be eligible to vote in the category.
In the cinematography category, there will now be a preliminary voting series for the cinematography prize to determine a limited list between 10 and 20 films.
In the category of international feature films, eligibility requirements concerning creative control have been updated to be inclusive with filmmakers with refugee or asylum status.
The country of submission must confirm that the creative control of the film was largely in the hands of citizens, residents or individuals with refugee or asylum status in the country of submission.
The key dates of the Academy, including the time of submission and the voting periods, for the 2025 Oscar season are as follows:
| First deadline for submission for the animated short film, Documentary felt, documentary short film and the categories of live short films |
Thursday August 14, 2025 |
| First deadline for submission for general entry categories, Animated feature film, best movie and form |
Wednesday September 10, 2025 |
| Deadline for submission for the international feature film | Wednesday October 1, 2025 |
| Academic students’ prize | Monday October 6, 2025 |
| Final submission date for the animated short film, Documentary short film and live action film categories |
Thursday October 9, 2025 |
| Submission deadline for music (original song) | Wednesday October 15, 2025 |
| Final submission date for the documentary feature film | Thursday October 16, 2025 |
| Deadline for submission for music (original partition) | Monday, November 3, 2025 |
| Final submission date for general entry categories, Animated feature film, best movie and form |
Thursday, November 13, 2025 |
| Governors’ awards | Sunday, November 16, 2025 |
| The preliminary vote begins at 9 a.m. | Monday December 8, 2025 |
| The preliminary vote ends at 5 p.m. PT | Friday December 12, 2025 |
| Oscars Short Lists | Tuesday December 16, 2025 |
| Pouring, makeup and hairstyle, sound and Visual effects nominating screening (cooking) |
Sat. January 10 / Sunday. January 11, 2026 |
| Voting nominations start 9 a.m. PT | Monday January 12, 2026 |
| Voting appointments end at 5 p.m. PT | Friday January 16, 2026 |
| Oscar appointment announcement | Thursday January 22, 2026 |
| Oscar nominee event | Tuesday February 10, 2026 |
| The vote of the finals begins at 9 a.m. | Thursday February 26, 2026 |
| The vote of the finals ends at 5 p.m. PT | Thursday March 5, 2026 |
| 98th Oscars | Sunday March 15, 2026 |
| Scientific and technical prices | Tuesday April 28, 2026 |
The academy has also updated and clarified formatting and language in the promotional campaign regulations for the 98th Oscars. The regulations specify how cinema companies and individuals directly associated with the films eligible for Oscars can promote these films, achievements and performance to the members of the Academy and how the members of the Academy can promote films, achievements and performances eligible for Oscars.
The substantial changes in the promotional campaign regulations include: the film festivals that have qualified Oscars can now have access to approved broadcasting houses to share information on programming festivals with the members of the Academy.
Public communications (including publications, republication of social media, sharing and comments) may not denigrate the techniques used or the subject of any film. Any member of the Academy, a film company or individuals directly associated with an eligible film found in violation will be subject to penalization The brutalist And other films during the last season of the Oscars.
For the complete rules of the 98th Academy Awards and campaign promotional regulations, visit osca.org/rules.
