Understanding Oscar Nominations: Insights into the Selection Process and the Viewing Requirements for Voters
Conan O’Brien hosts the 97th Oscars on March 2, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
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Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Every year, members of the Academy nominate films for over 20 different Oscar categories.
- Movies must meet certain criteria to be eligible for nomination.
- Not all members can vote in every category, with some categories requiring multiple rounds of voting.
Each year, narrowing down hundreds of eligible films to a select few Academy Award nominees presents a formidable challenge for members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This prestigious organization oversees the Oscars, which have been held since 1929.
Over the decades, the selection process for these awards has become increasingly stringent, employing multiple voting rounds to determine nominees across the ceremony’s various categories.
The Academy’s voting process, as detailed on its official website, involves secret online ballots. The results are announced during a live nomination event prior to the awards ceremony. For the upcoming 98th Academy Awards, nomination voting commenced in November 2025, with nominees unveiled on January 22 by actors Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman.
The nomination process for the Oscars reveals intricate details about how films are selected. This article will delve into the nomination criteria, the voting process, and whether Oscar voters are required to view all nominated films.
What are the criteria for Oscar nominations?
Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Sean Baker, Samantha Quan, and Alex Coco, winners of the Best Picture award for Anora during the 97th Annual Oscars on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California.
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All films must meet a foundational set of criteria to be nominated. According to the official rulebook, movies must begin a seven-day theatrical run in at least one qualifying U.S. city between January 1 and December 31 of the award year and have a runtime exceeding 40 minutes, unless stated otherwise.
Films released initially to the public outside of a theatrical setting—such as those aired on broadcast television or online—are not eligible for nomination.
How are Oscar nominations chosen?
Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott during the 97th Oscars Nominations Announcement on January 23, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.
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The nomination process kicks off after the submission deadline closes. A preliminary vote across all categories occurs in December, followed by the announcement of several shortlisted films. In December 2025, the Academy revealed the shortlists for 12 categories.
Following the shortlist announcements, nomination voting typically occurs in mid-January. This phase lasts for four days, culminating in a live announcement of the nominees.
How many nominees are there in each category?
Oscar statuettes are seen backstage during the 97th Annual Oscars on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California.
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Most Oscar categories are limited to five nominees, but the Best Picture category can feature up to 10 films. In addition to the Academy’s established 24 competitive categories, new awards are on the horizon.
In 2024, the Academy’s Board of Governors announced the introduction of an award for Achievement in Casting at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026, with an award for Achievement in Stunt Design slated to follow at the 100th ceremony in 2027.
Who can vote for Oscar nominations?
Peter Grace, Robert Mackenzie, Kevin O’Connell and Andy Wright, winners of the Best Sound Mixing award for ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ during the 89th Oscars on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
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Voting for Oscar nominations is restricted to members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and even among them, not all can vote in every category. The Academy is divided into 20 branches, each representing different filmmaking disciplines, including actors, directors, writers, producers, and editors.
With the exception of Best Picture, Best Animated Short Film, and Best International Feature Film, members are permitted to vote only within their own fields for nominations.
This restriction applies solely to nominations; Academy members can vote in all categories for Oscar winners.
Do Oscar voters have to watch all the movies?
Conan O’Brien hosts the 97th Oscars on March 2, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
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In some categories, including Best Animated Short Film, Best International Feature Film, and Best Live Action Short Film, members voting in the second round of nominations must watch all films on the shortlist.
This requirement was extended to winner voting in April 2025, when the Academy stipulated that members must now watch every nominated film in a category to cast votes in the final round. The upcoming 98th Academy Awards in 2026 will be the first event with this rule in effect.
Some Academy members, including actress Kirsten Dunst, already adhered to the practice of viewing all nominees. In 2022, Dunst remarked to Variety that she had seen “everything” as a member of the Academy.
When are the 2026 Oscars?
View of the stage during the 88th Oscars on February 28, 2016 in Hollywood, California.
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The 98th Academy Awards are slated for March 15, 2026. Comedian Conan O’Brien will return as host, and the event will be broadcast live on ABC while also available for streaming on Hulu.
