Oscars Set to Move to Peacock Theater in L.A. Live for 2029 Ceremony
The Oscars are gearing up for a transformative shift, moving their ceremony from ABC to YouTube and changing venues. The upcoming 101st Academy Awards will be hosted at the Peacock Theater within the L.A. Live complex, which has been the venue for the Emmys in recent years.
On Thursday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a multiyear partnership with AEG, marking the beginning of a new era for the Oscars. The partnership solidifies L.A. Live as the Oscars’ new home, commencing with the ceremony in 2029 and extending through 2039.
This agreement heralds a return to downtown Los Angeles for the Oscars, which historically took place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from 1969 and later at the Shrine Auditorium until the event moved to the Kodak Theatre (now the Dolby Theatre) in Hollywood in 2002.
Inside the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles
Courtesy L.A. Live
AEG, the operator of L.A. Live, plans to upgrade the Peacock’s stage, sound and lighting systems, lobby areas, backstage facilities, and other essential production spaces in collaboration with the Academy. The redesigned venue promises to offer a bespoke experience for the Oscars.
The spacious L.A. Live plaza will feature the red carpet arrivals and other activities, and the Peacock Theater will debut as the venue for the Oscars when they transition to YouTube through an exclusive global rights agreement commencing in 2029.
“We are thrilled to partner with a global powerhouse like AEG. Their track record for building and operating technologically sophisticated live performance venues is unrivaled,” stated Academy CEO Bill Kramer alongside Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor. “For the 101st Oscars and beyond, we look forward to closely collaborating with AEG to make L.A. Live the perfect backdrop for our global celebration of cinema, both for our live in-theater audience and for film fans around the world.”
Todd Goldstein, Chief Revenue Officer at AEG, commented, “L.A. Live was built to host the moments that define culture, and there is no greater global stage than the Oscars. We’re proud to partner with the Academy to reimagine what the Oscars can look and feel like in the years ahead.”
Since the opening of Crypto.com Arena in 1999 and L.A. Live in 2007, the complex, which includes hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues, has been a hub for major sports and entertainment events. The Academy Awards will remain at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will continue to be broadcast live on ABC and in over 200 territories worldwide until the 100th Oscars in 2028.
