Oscars 2025 to be cancelled due to LA fires? What we know so far

Oscars 2025: Amid the raging LA fires, there have been growing concerns about whether the 2025 Academy Awards will be held this year. 

A recent report from The Sun suggested that the 97th Academy Awards is ‘on verge of being cancelled’ due to the fires. However, a report by The Hollywood Reporter indicated that the report was false.

The 97th Oscars are scheduled for March 2.

Here's what we know so far

The Sun had reported that the Academy Awards may be cancelled for the first time in its 96-year history amid the raging LA fires. The report stated that an Official Academy Award committee had been formed, which includes stars Tom Hanks, Emma Stone, Meryl Streep, and Steven Spielberg, who are closely monitoring the situation.

An insider told The Sun that the board's concern is not to look like 'celebrating’ as many people in Los Angeles are dealing with devastating loss and sadness.

"And certainly, even if the fires went out in the next week, the reality is that the city is still hurting and will be dealing with that pain for months,” an insider said, quoted by The Sun.

However, The Hollywood Reporter denied these claims in an exclusive report. After speaking with senior figures at the Academy and individuals close to the A-listers, they reported that no such plan is being considered and no advisory committee like this exists.

The report added that any changes to the Oscars ceremony would require thorough discussions between the Academy and its longtime broadcast partner, ABC. For now, the Academy's leadership agrees that the show should go ahead to support the fire relief efforts and raise funds, said the report.

Oscars push back nominations announcement

The Oscars nominations have been pushed back almost a week from their original date of January 17 amid the ongoing California wildfires.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday that the Oscars nominations will now be announced on January 23. 

The last time the nominations were postponed was in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Have Oscars ceremonies been delayed before?

The Oscars ceremony has been delayed several times before. 

In 1938, it was pushed back a week because of disastrous flooding in Los Angeles. 

In 1968, it was delayed by two days following the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. 

In 1981, it was put off for 24 hours after President Ronald Reagan was shot in Washington, DC. The 1981 decision was made four hours before the broadcast was scheduled to begin.