The Oscars have shared details about how they will honor the city of Los Angeles amid the devastation caused by the wildfires, as well as other updates on this year’s ceremony.
In a letter sent to Academy members, CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang outlined plans for the 97th Academy Awards, which will take place on Sunday, March 2. The announcement comes in the wake of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, with the Academy using the opportunity to highlight its commitment to the resilience of the film industry and its home city.
“Our sincerest thanks to all of you for your compassion and support over the past few weeks,” the letter begins, expressing solidarity with those affected by the fires that have ravaged Los Angeles County. Kramer and Yang also urged members to support ongoing relief efforts and included information on aid resources.
The upcoming ceremony, which will be hosted by Emmy-winning comedian and former late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien, promises to celebrate the transformative power of cinema while addressing themes of connection and collaboration.
In a break from tradition, the original song category will forgo live performances of nominated songs – a staple of past Oscar ceremonies. Instead, the show will spotlight the songwriters through personal reflections and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the creative teams behind the music. This year’s contestants are expected to include songs from the Spanish musical “Emilia Pérez” by Jacques Audiard, with pieces reportedly sung by Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez.
“We will celebrate their artistry through the personal reflections of the teams who bring these songs to life. All of this and more will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees,” Kramer and Yang wrote.
“Fab 5” moments return this year, a segment in which individual artists recognize nominees and pay tribute. The tradition, introduced in recent years, has resonated with audiences celebrating artistry across generations, resulting in memorable moments such as Oscar winner Rita Moreno (“West Side Story”) paying tribute to nominated actress America Ferrera (“Barbie”).
The Academy also plans to “honor Los Angeles as a city of dreams, showcasing its beauty and resilience.”
The Academy’s letter’s conclusion emphasized a commitment to unity and optimism, particularly in the face of recent challenges. “There is so much more to come, including powerful musical moments that connect cinema’s rich history with its bold and inspiring future.” We hope you’ll tune in tomorrow morning to watch the nominations announcement, and we greatly appreciate your continued commitment to the Academy and our film community. We are stronger together.
Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 23 at 5:30 a.m. PT.
The full letter is below.
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Dear members of the Academy,
Our most sincere thanks to all of you for your compassion and support over the past few weeks. Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. If you are interested in joining the Academy to support ongoing relief efforts, please click here for a list of help resources.
After ongoing consultations with ABC, our Board of Directors and other key stakeholders in Los Angeles and the film community, planning continues for the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2. This year’s Oscars will celebrate the work that unites us as a global film community and recognize those who fought so bravely against the wildfires.
As a reminder, our 97th Academy Award nominations will be announced tomorrow, January 23, at 5:30 a.m. PT via a global live broadcast on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, the Academy’s digital platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube , Facebook), ABC’s Good. Morning America and ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu. American Sign Language (ASL) services will be available on YouTube.
In anticipation of tomorrow’s announcement, we wanted to share a little about this year’s show. Hosted by the incredible Conan O’Brien, our 97th Academy Awards will be a celebration of connection and collaboration – honoring the unifying spirit and creative synergy of cinema. We will highlight the transformative power of teamwork that brings cinematic visions to life.
As part of this, we are excited to bring back our “Fab 5” moments, where individual film artists recognize nominees. Additionally, this year, the Best Original Song category presentation will move away from live performances and focus on songwriters. We’ll celebrate their artistry through the personal reflections of the teams who bring these songs to life. All this and more will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees.
And we will honor Los Angeles as the City of Dreams, showcasing its beauty and resilience, and its role as a beacon for filmmakers and creative visionaries for more than a century. We will reflect on recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity and optimism that define Los Angeles and our industry.
There’s much more to come, including powerful musical moments that connect cinema’s rich history with its bold and inspiring future. We hope you’ll tune in tomorrow morning to watch the nominations announcement, and we greatly appreciate your continued commitment to the Academy and our film community. We are stronger together.
Bill Kramer and Janet Yang
