Oscars Mandate Voters Watch All Nominated Films for 2026 Ceremony

With the 2025 film festival season winding down and the New York Film Festival kicking off, the race for the 2026 Oscars is heating up. Just over a month after the previous ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced some significant changes for the upcoming 98th edition.

One of the most notable updates is that voters will now be required to watch all the nominated films in each category in order to participate in the final voting round. This is a departure from the previous system, where voters could select films without necessarily seeing the full slate of nominees.

Another key change involves the presentation of nominees on the final ballot. Rather than just the film's title, the names of the individual nominees will now be listed. This provides more transparency and recognition for the artists and craftspeople behind the work.

In addition to these rule changes, the 2026 Oscars will also feature a brand-new category: Achievement in Casting. The timing of when this category will be announced, whether at the ceremony or the Governor's Awards, is still to be determined.

Returning to host the 2026 Oscars is Conan O'Brien, who previously emceed the 2025 edition. Producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will also be back for their third consecutive year overseeing the production.

As for the broadcast, the Academy's exclusive deal with ABC has come to an end, so the organization will now shop the rights to the ceremony with other networks and platforms. While it's unlikely to stream on Hulu as it has in the past, the 2026 Oscars will undoubtedly find a new home to reach audiences around the world.