The The Oscars have shared details on how they will honor the city of Los Angeles amid the devastation caused by the wildfires, along with other updates on this year’s ceremony.
In a letter sent to Academy members, CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang outlined plans for the 97th Academy Awards ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, March 2. The announcement comes on the heels of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, with the Academy using the opportunity to highlight its commitment to the resilience of the film industry and its hometown.
“Our deepest thanks to all of you for your compassion and support over the past few weeks,” the letter began, expressing solidarity with those affected by the fires that swept through Los Angeles County. Kramer and Yang also urged members to support ongoing relief efforts and included information about resources for aid.
The upcoming ceremony, which will be hosted by Emmy-winning comedian and former talk show host Conan O’Brien, promises to celebrate the transformative power of filmmaking while embracing themes of connection and collaboration.
In a break from tradition original song the category will forego live performances of the nominated songs – a staple of past Oscar ceremonies. 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,” with 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 that bring these songs to life. All this and more will reveal the stories and inspiration behind this year’s nominees,” wrote Kramer and Yang.
Returning this year is the “Fab 5” moment, a segment where individual artists recognize nominees and deliver tributes. Introduced in recent years, the tradition has resonated with audiences celebrating artistry across generations, producing memorable moments like 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, especially in the face of recent challenges. “There’s so much more in store, including powerful musical moments that connect the film’s rich history with its bold and inspiring future. We hope you’ll tune in tomorrow morning to watch the nominations announcement, and we really appreciate your continued commitment to the academy and our film community. We are stronger together.”
The nominations for the Oscars will be announced on Thursday, January 23 at 05.30 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 past few weeks. Our thoughts remain with those affected by the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area. If you would like to join the Academy to support the ongoing relief efforts, click here for a list of relief resources.
Following continued consultation with ABC, our board and other key stakeholders in the Los Angeles and film communities, planning continues for the 97th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 2. This year’s Academy Awards will celebrate the work that unites us as a global film community and recognize those who fought so bravely against the bushfires.
As a reminder, our 97th Academy Awards nominations will be announced tomorrow, January 23rd at 5:30 a.m. 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 about this year’s show. Hosted by the incredible Conan O’Brien, our 97th Academy Awards will be a celebration of connection and collaboration—honoring the unifying spirit and creative synergy of filmmaking. We will highlight the transformative power of teamwork that brings cinematic visions to life.
As part of this, we’re excited to bring back our ‘Fab 5’ moments, where individual filmmakers recognize nominees. Additionally, the presentation in the Best Original Song category this year will move away from live performances and focus on the songwriters. We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams that bring these songs to life. All this, and more, will reveal 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 recent events while highlighting the strength, creativity and optimism that define Los Angeles and our industry.
There’s so much more in store, including powerful musical moments that connect the film’s rich history with its bold and inspiring future. We hope you’ll tune in tomorrow morning to watch the nominations announcement, and we truly appreciate your continued commitment to the Academy and our filmmaking community. We are stronger together.
Bill Kramer and Janet Yang
