The Academy Awards are undergoing a significant shift, announcing they will leave their longtime home at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood for a novel venue at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles beginning in 2029. The move, confirmed Thursday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and AEG, marks a major change for the iconic ceremony and coincides with a broader strategy to expand the Oscars’ global reach.
The agreement with AEG, which owns and operates L.A. Live, extends through 2039. This transition isn’t just about a new location. it’s happening as the Oscars prepare to stream live worldwide on YouTube in 2029, ending a 70-year run on traditional broadcast television with ABC. The move to L.A. Live is intended to provide a more centralized and expansive campus-style setting for the event.
A New Home at L.A. Live
Beginning in 2029, the Oscars will be held in the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live, which is slated to be renamed before the ceremony’s arrival. L.A. Live offers a distinct advantage over the Dolby Theatre: a more consolidated footprint for the red carpet, the show itself, press operations, and post-show events. The complex, adjacent to Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center, regularly hosts major events like the Emmys and the Grammys. AEG has plans to further expand the complex with new hotels, residences, and entertainment spaces.
The Academy noted that the new venue will allow for increased capacity, a growing consideration as its membership has expanded to over 11,000 members. The Peacock Theater is also expected to undergo upgrades to its stage, sound, and lighting systems to better accommodate the demands of the broadcast and live event.
From Hollywood Boulevard to Downtown Los Angeles
Since 2002, the Dolby Theatre (originally the Kodak Theatre) has been synonymous with the Oscars, situated at the heart of Hollywood Boulevard’s entertainment district. The location, near the TCL Chinese Theatre and the El Capitan, has become a symbolic center for the film industry. However, the area has faced challenges with space constraints, requiring extensive street closures and heightened security measures each year. Security concerns were particularly acute this year, with a one-mile police buffer established amid international tensions, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Interestingly, the move to L.A. Live represents a return to the Oscars’ roots. Prior to the Dolby Theatre, the ceremony was frequently held in downtown Los Angeles at venues like the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Shrine Auditorium. The Academy stated the new location will offer greater control over staging, audience arrangement, and logistical operations.
A Reset for the Oscars
The relocation to L.A. Live is part of a larger effort to revitalize the Oscars, which have experienced declining television viewership in recent years. Viewership fell to 17.9 million this year, a 9% decrease from the previous year, after peaking at over 40 million in the late 1990s. The shift to YouTube is a key component of this strategy, aiming to reach a broader, more global audience.
Todd Goldstein, AEG’s chief revenue officer, emphasized the synergy between L.A. Live and the Oscars, stating, “L.A. Live was built to host the moments that define culture and there is no greater global stage than the Oscars. Together, we will create an environment that celebrates creativity, honors excellence and delivers an unforgettable experience for movie fans everywhere.”
The Academy will remain at the Dolby Theatre through the 100th Academy Awards ceremony in 2028. Academy Chief Executive Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a statement, “For the 101st Oscars and beyond, the Academy looks forward to closely collaborating with AEG to produce L.A. Live the perfect backdrop for our global celebration of cinema.”
Looking ahead, the transition to L.A. Live and YouTube represents a significant turning point for the Oscars. The success of this new chapter will depend on the Academy’s ability to leverage these changes to attract a wider audience and maintain the prestige and excitement surrounding the world’s most celebrated film awards.
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