Academy Delays 2021 Oscar Ceremony, BAFTA Reschedules Too

On Monday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a press release that it will move the 93rd Oscars ceremony to Sunday, April 25, 2021, in the wake of the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. The ceremony was originally scheduled for Feb. 28, 2021.

The Academy said in the release, "For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times. They certainly have this year. Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyone's control."

In April, the Academy released new rules stating that movies are no longer required to have a 7-day theatrical run for qualification. Digital releases can now be contenders at least temporarily.

As a result, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures opening will also be delayed from December to April 30, 2021 to coincide with the Oscars ceremony. This announcement comes just days after the Academy released new diversity requirements for eligibility. The rule will not come into play for next year's contenders, and details of the requirements are still being ironed out.

The BAFTAs are being delayed as well and will now air on April 11, two weeks before the Academy Awards. BAFTA is also seeking to create new diversity standards.

Source: The Academy