Street Closures for the 2026 Oscars: Your Complete Guide

Major Traffic Disruptions Expected for the 98th Academy Awards in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES – The 98th Academy Awards, scheduled for Sunday, March 15, at the Dolby Theatre, will result in significant traffic disruptions across Hollywood as pre-event preparations begin.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, Hollywood Boulevard will be fully closed to vehicle traffic between Orange Drive and Highland Avenue, with this closure extending until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18. Officials have outlined a series of scheduled road closures leading up to and during the ceremony.

Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the closures:

Upcoming Road Closures

• Sunday, March 1:

  • Closure of the north curb lane of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except for MTA buses.
  • Closure of the north sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard from Highland Avenue to 230 feet east of Orange Drive, allowing 8-foot pedestrian access.

• Wednesday, March 4:

  • North curb lane of Hawthorn Avenue and the sidewalk in front of the Dolby Theatre will be closed from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. on March 18.

• Thursday, March 5:

  • Full closure of all lanes on Hollywood Boulevard (with a 20-foot emergency lane) from Orange Drive to Highland Avenue from 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. on March 18.

• Sunday, March 8:

  • South curb lane of Hawthorn Avenue will be closed, with bus reroutes starting the same day.

• Monday, March 9 – Saturday, March 14:

  • Additional street closures along Hawthorn Alley and various sidewalks between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive, with specific timelines for each segment.

On Oscar night, essential streets, crosswalks, and sidewalks will be closed from March 15 until 6:00 a.m. on March 16, affecting access to various nearby locations.

Transit riders should prepare for changes as well. Metro B Line trains will skip the Hollywood/Highland station starting after the last train on March 14, resuming service after 6 a.m. on March 16. Metro bus lines, including routes 212, 217, and 222, will also adapt their schedules and routes.

Officials’ Statements

In a statement finalized on Friday, officials emphasized the importance of these closures for constructing necessary infrastructure along the Oscars’ red carpet. Metro encourages passengers to utilize alternative stations such as Hollywood/Vine during this period.

While the primary closure schedule is laid out, specific timings for sidewalk and side-street closures may vary based on decisions made by the LAPD and security teams.

As the Academy Awards approach, residents and visitors in the area are advised to plan accordingly to avoid inconvenience during one of Hollywood’s most celebrated events.