New home after nearly three decades
The Academy Awards will relocate in 2029 from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood to the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. The move, announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and AEG, is part of a new 10-year partnership between the two organizations.
The 2029 ceremony will mark the Academy’s 101st Oscars and will be the first edition streamed via YouTube under a separate broadcast agreement finalized late last year.
Major upgrades planned at L.A. Live
AEG, which owns and operates entertainment venues worldwide, will oversee significant renovations to the Peacock Theater ahead of the transition. Planned enhancements include improvements to the stage, sound and lighting systems, lobbies and backstage facilities, along with other production-critical areas.
According to the announcement, AEG will also collaborate with the Academy on custom design elements tailored specifically to the Oscars ceremony.
The Peacock Theater currently seats 7,100 guests, more than double the Dolby Theatre’s 3,400-seat capacity. By the time of the relocation, the venue may carry a different name, as its naming rights expire in 2028.
Expanded red carpet and audience capacity
The Oscars’ red carpet arrivals will take place at L.A. Live’s expanded plaza, part of a 23-acre, 4-million-square-foot sports and entertainment district. The larger footprint allows for increased attendance and a broader event presence in downtown Los Angeles.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor said in a joint statement that AEG’s expertise in building and operating technologically advanced venues makes the company an ideal partner for the ceremony’s next chapter.
“For the 101st Oscars and beyond, the Academy looks forward to closely collaborating with AEG to make L.A. Live the perfect backdrop for our global celebration of cinema,” they said.
Reimagining the ceremony
Todd Goldsten, chief revenue officer of AEG, described the partnership as an opportunity to reshape the look and feel of the Oscars in the years ahead.
“L.A. Live was built to host the moments that define culture, and there is no greater global stage than the Oscars,” Goldsten said. “Together, we will create an environment that celebrates creativity and delivers an unforgettable experience for movie fans everywhere.”
The relocation marks one of the most significant venue changes in the modern history of the Academy Awards, signaling both logistical expansion and a shift in how the ceremony will be presented to audiences worldwide.
