The Academy Releases New 2026 Oscar Award Rules
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved new awards rules and campaign promotional regulations for the 2026 Academy Awards. These include revised voting requirements, a new Achievement in Casting award, and clarified guidance on using Generative Artificial Intelligence.
Academy members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round of the Oscars. While it is surprising that this was not already a requirement, the Academy ensures that members must view all films in their entirety from now on.
We did it, film Twitter. The Oscars just made it mandatory for voters to actually watch all the nominated films in a category before voting. pic.twitter.com/0wAAL52Cn6
— Nicole Alicia Xavier (sha•vee•er) (@nicoleaxavier) April 21, 2025
Additionally, all designated nominees in each category will be listed on the final ballot. This is welcome news to multi-Oscar winner nominees who have already established their names.
The Academy also introduces the Achievement in Casting award, which recognizes the collaboration between casting directors, filmmakers, and producers to assemble a film’s acting ensemble. Determining the nominees will take place over multiple stages.
In a statement made by the Academy, “There will be a preliminary round of voting to determine a shortlist of 10 films, and prior to nominations voting, Casting Directors Branch members will be invited to view a ‘bake-off’ presentation of the shortlisted achievements, including a Q&A with the designated nominees.”
Following the bake-off, only Casting Branch members who have viewed all ten films will vote to select five nominees to be presented to the public.
Furthermore, the Academy also introduced new language regarding Generative Artificial Intelligence.
They state, “With regard to Generative Artificial Intelligence and other digital tools used in the making of the film, the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination. The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which movie to award.”
The 2026 Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The Academy discloses that all rules and dates are subject to change.
To find out more about regulation changes and Academy key dates, click here.
