The Oscars have shared details about how they will honor the city of Los Angeles amid the devastation caused by wildfires, along with other updates to this year’s ceremony.
In a letter sent to Academy members, CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang outlined plans for the 97th Oscars ceremony, set to take place on Sunday, March 2. The announcement comes on the heels of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, with the Academy using the opportunity to highlight its commitment to the resilience of the film industry and its home city.
“Our deepest thanks to all of you for your compassion and support over the last few weeks,” the letter began, expressing solidarity with those affected by the fires that swept across Los Angeles County. Kramer and Yang also urged members to support ongoing relief efforts and included information on resources for aid.
The upcoming ceremony, to be hosted by Emmy-winning comedian and former late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien, promises to celebrate the transformative power of filmmaking while embracing themes of connection and collaboration.
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In a break from tradition, the original song category will forgo live performances of the nominated songs — a staple of Oscars ceremonies past. Instead, the show will spotlight the songwriters through personal reflections and behind-the-scenes insights from the creative teams behind the music. This year’s contenders are expected to include songs from Jacques Audiard’s Spanish-language musical “Emilia Pérez,” featuring numbers that would have been sung by Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez.
“We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life. All of this, and more, will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees,” Kramer and Yang wrote.
Returning this year are the “Fab 5” moments, a segment in which individual artists recognize nominees and perform tributes. The tradition, introduced in recent years, has resonated with audiences celebrating artistry across generations, which has brought memorable moments such as Oscar winner Rita Moreno (“West Side Story”) paying tribute to supporting actress nominee America Ferrera (“Barbie”).
The Academy also plans to “honor Los Angeles as a city of dreams, showcasing its beauty and resilience.”
The conclusion of the Academy’s letter emphasized a commitment to unity and optimism, particularly in the face of recent challenges. “There is so much more in store, including powerful musical moments that connect film’s rich history to its bold and inspiring future. We hope you will tune in tomorrow morning to watch the Nominations Announcement, and we greatly appreciate your ongoing commitment to the Academy and our film community. We are stronger together.”
The nominations for the Oscars will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 5:30 a.m. PT.
The full letter is below.
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Dear Academy members,
Our deepest thanks to all of you for your compassion and support over the last few weeks. Our thoughts remain with those who were impacted by the recent Los Angeles-area wildfires. If you would like to join the Academy in supporting the ongoing relief efforts, please click here for a list of aid resources.
After continued consultation with ABC, our board, and other key stakeholders in the Los Angeles and film communities, planning continues for the 97th Oscars ceremony on Sunday, March 2. This year’s Oscars will celebrate the work that unites us as a global film community and acknowledge those who fought so bravely against the wildfires.
As a reminder, our 97th Oscars Nominations will be announced tomorrow, January 23, at 5:30am PT via global live stream on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, the Academy’s digital platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook), ABC’s Good Morning America, and ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu. American Sign Language (ASL) services will be available on YouTube.
As a precursor to tomorrow’s announcement, we wanted to share a little bit about this year’s show. Hosted by the incredible Conan O’Brien, our 97th Oscars will be a celebration of connection and collaboration – honoring the unifying spirit and creative synergy of moviemaking. We will highlight the transformative power of the teamwork that brings cinematic visions to life.
As part of this, we are thrilled to bring back our “Fab 5” moments, where individual film artists recognize nominees. Also, this year the Best Original Song category presentation will move away from live performances and will be focused on the songwriters. We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life. All of this, and more, will uncover the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees.
And we will honor Los Angeles as the city of dreams, showcasing its beauty and resilience, as well as its role as a beacon for filmmakers and creative visionaries for over a century. We will reflect on the recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that defines Los Angeles and our industry.
There is so much more in store, including powerful musical moments that connect film’s rich history to its bold and inspiring future. We hope you will tune in tomorrow morning to watch the Nominations Announcement, and we greatly appreciate your ongoing commitment to the Academy and our film community. We are stronger together.
Bill Kramer and Janet Yang