The Academy has unveiled significant updates for the 2025 Oscars ceremony, scheduled to air March 2 on ABC and Hulu. According to an internal letter obtained by Entertainment Weekly, this year’s show will honor the resilience of Los Angeles, partially inspired by the devastating wildfires that recently disrupted awards season events.
In a heartfelt pivot, the broadcast will spotlight the unsung heroes who battled the fires, moving away from live performances of Best Original Song nominees to focus on the songwriters behind the music. This change mirrors the 84th Oscars in 2012, when live performances were also omitted due to a limited number of nominees.
The telecast will feature segments highlighting Los Angeles’ beauty, creativity, and strength, paired with “powerful musical moments” to emphasize the city’s resilience. The “Fab 5” presentations, a fan-favorite format that brings back past film artists to introduce major nominees, will also make a comeback in key categories like acting.
Best Original Song Nominees Spotlighted
This change directly impacts nominees like Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Karla Sofía Gascón, who performed standout songs from Emilia Pérez. However, as they didn’t write the tracks, the nominations would go to songwriters Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard.
Other strong contenders for the category include Elton John’s “Never Too Late” (Elton John: Never Too Late), Diane Warren’s “The Journey” (The Six Triple Eight), “Compress/Repress” (Challengers), and “Kiss the Sky” (The Wild Robot).
Delayed Nominations Announcement
The L.A. wildfires also caused a delay in the nominations schedule, now set for Thursday, Jan. 23, with presenters Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott hosting the reveal.
Conan O’Brien to Host
Late-night legend Conan O’Brien will host the ceremony, marking a fresh comedic tone for the broadcast. The event begins with the red carpet at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, followed by the live telecast at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
This year’s Oscars promises to be a moving tribute to the community spirit and creativity that defines both Los Angeles and the film industry. Stay tuned!
