On Monday, April 21, Academy’s Board of Governors released a sweeping list of its recently approved awards rules and campaign regulations for the 98th Academy Awards Sat for Sunday 15 March 2026.
One of the more fascinating aspects of the new rules is how many people directly address the several scandals swirling around last year’s Oscar campaign. For example, in response to all claims from the best nominated image from “Brutalist” to “a complete unknown” With the help of a certain form of generative artificial intelligence, the Academy’s Science and Technology Council has approved a new language of competence that reads: “In the case of generative artificial intelligence and other digital tools used in the manufacture of The filmThe tools neither help nor harm the chance of achieving a nomination. The academy and each branch will assess the performance, taking into account the extent to which a human being was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which film to be assigned. ”
In the same way, in what seems as a reference to the best announcement of the best picture that has so many ”Nominees to be determined“That the academy made a t-shirt to tout it, there is now a rule for film release from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, to have to show proof of submission for producers guild of america (PGA) Mark Certification or Award- Ionly Released from July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, Producers Must Show Proof of Submission to the PGA No Later Than November 13, 2025.
Finally, taking into account how recently challengers as “The seed from the holy figs“Was submitted by the same country in which their dissident film creators took asylum, the category Best international feature film has updated the eligibility requirement for creative control to be the inclusion of filmmakers with a refugee or asylum status. The new order is as follows:“ The condition must confirm that creative control of the film was a major in the hands of citizens, or individuals.
On the side of the campaign’s marketing rules, a new rule is changing that public communication (including any social media posts, reposts, shares and comments) may not reduce the techniques used in or the subject of any film, go hand in hand with the aforementioned AI techniques that grew up in the latest dividend.
At the same time, the “Subject” part of the rule is more evergreen, and probably a direct response to part of Flack a movie like “Emilia Pérez“Received. The last line in the rule says that all academy members, film companies or individuals who are directly associated with a legitimate film that has proven to be in battle will be the subject of punishment.
As for the smaller reference rules and regulations, the best animated short film is now available to all Academy members to choose to vote for, as long as they see all 15 films on the card list. Speaking of card lists, there will now be one for best cinematography with 10 to 20 films determined in the preliminary vote round.
The new one Casting Category will also be part of the preliminary vote round, where a short list of 10 films will be determined. The category will also have a baking, similar to makeup and hairstyle, audio and visual effects nominees, where Casting Director Branch members will be asked to see a presentation of the short-listed performance, including a question and answers with the nominees appointed.
Finally, the deadlines for music categories have also been shared now, with the best original song that has a deadline on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 17.00 PT and best original points with a deadline on Monday 3 November 2025, at 17.00 pt. And at the campaign regulations, the Oscar-qualify film festivals can now have access to approved postal houses to share information about festival programming with academy members.
And if it was not clear to the members in the past, the academy has made a definitive procedural change and told them that they now have to look at all nominated movies in each category to be eligible to vote in the last round of Oscar. All designated nominees will also be included in the final vote.
The 98th Oscars will be broadcast live on ABC on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at. 19.00 et/16.00 pt.
See the recent deadlines for submission and additional key dates, including voting periods, for the 98th Academy Awards below:
Thursday, August 14, 2025: First submission deadline for animated short film, documentary film, documentary short film and live action short film categories
Wednesday, September 10, 2025: First submission deadline for general entry categories, animated feature film, best image and raising forms
Wednesday, October 1, 2025: Deadline for international feature films
Monday 6 October 2025: Student Academy Awards
Thursday 9 October 2025: Final submission deadline for animated short film, documentary short film and short film categories for live action
Wednesday, October 15, 2025: Submission Deadline for Music (Original Song) Categories
Thursday 16 October 2025: Final submission deadline for Documentary Film Film
Monday 3 November 2025: Submission Deadline for Music (Original Points) Categories
Thursday 13 November 2025: Final submission deadline for general entry categories, animated feature film, best image and raising forms
Sunday 16 November 2025: Governor awards
Monday 8 December 2025: Preliminary vote begins 9 am PT
Friday 12 December 2025: Preliminary vote ends 17:00 PT
Tuesday 16 December 2025: Oscar’s card lists announcement
Saturday 10 January and Sunday 11 January 2026: Casting, makeup and hairstyle, audio and visual effects nominate views (bake-offs)
Monday 12 January 2026: The nomination voting begins 9 AM PT
Friday 16 January 2026: The nomination voting ends at 17.00 pt
Thursday 22 January 2026: Oscars nominations announcement
Tuesday, February 10, 2026: Oscar’s nominated events
Thursday 26 February 2026: The final voting starts 9 am pt
Thursday, March 5, 2026: The final voting ends at 17:00 pt
Sunday 15 March 2026: 98th Oscars
Tuesday April 28, 2026: Scientific and technical prices
