SIGNALDESK EDITORIAL DESK English (UK)
Signaldesk.uk Signaldesk Editorial Desk
Subscribe
Blog Business Local Politics Tech World

When Are the Oscars 2025 – Date, Time, Host and Winners

Freddie James Morgan • 2026-04-13 • Reviewed by Oliver Bennett


The 97th Academy Awards ceremony took place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, marking one of the most anticipated nights in the entertainment calendar. The ceremony aired live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, celebrating outstanding achievements in filmmaking from 2024. For the first time, the Oscars were streamed on Hulu alongside the traditional ABC broadcast, expanding accessibility to viewers across multiple platforms.

Comedian Conan O’Brien took the stage as the host, marking his debut in this role for the Academy Awards. The evening honored 2024 films across 23 award categories, with Anora emerging as a major winner by securing both Best Picture and Best Actress honors for Mikey Madison.

When Are the Oscars 2025?

The Academy officially confirmed the 97th Academy Awards ceremony for Sunday, March 2, 2025. This date represented a shift from the ceremony’s traditional late February slot, pushing the event into early March. The decision placed the Oscars after the Super Bowl on the calendar, continuing a trend the Academy has explored in recent years to maximize television viewership.

Date
March 2, 2025
Start Time
7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Venue
Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles
Broadcaster
ABC (Live + Hulu)

Key Insights About the 97th Academy Awards

  • Conan O’Brien hosted the ceremony for the first time in his career
  • The Oscars 2025 streamed live on Hulu for the first time ever
  • Emilia Pérez received a record 13 nominations for a non-English-language film
  • The ceremony aired live in over 200 territories worldwide
  • Anora won Best Picture, with Mikey Madison winning Best Actress
  • The ceremony honored films released in 2024 across 23 award categories

Oscars 2025 Snapshot

Detail Information
Event 97th Academy Awards
Date Sunday, March 2, 2025
Start Time 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Red Carpet 6:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Venue Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles
Host Conan O’Brien
Streaming Hulu (first time), ABC.com with authentication
Categories 23
Best Picture Anora
Best Actress Mikey Madison

What Time Does the Oscars 2025 Ceremony Start?

The main ceremony began at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, corresponding to 4 p.m. Pacific Time for viewers on the West Coast. This timing placed the broadcast during primetime hours for the majority of North American audiences, ensuring maximum viewership potential for the three-and-a-half-hour event.

The red carpet pre-show, titled “The Oscars Red Carpet Show,” aired for 30 minutes starting at 6:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Prior to that, ABC’s “On the Red Carpet at the Oscars” provided extended coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET, featuring hosts Linsey Davis, Whit Johnson, Chris Connelly, George Pennaccio, and Clayton Davis. This comprehensive pre-show coverage allowed viewers to follow celebrity arrivals, fashion commentary, and interviews with nominees throughout the evening.

Understanding the Oscars 2025 Schedule

The evening unfolded in a structured sequence, beginning with pre-show programming and transitioning into the main ceremony. Build-up programming aired throughout Friday on Good Morning America and GMA3, with a primetime special titled “Countdown to the Oscars with Robin Roberts” on Friday evening. This multi-platform approach reflected the Academy’s strategy to maintain audience engagement across multiple days surrounding the ceremony.

Schedule Context

The ceremony’s timing at 7 p.m. ET placed it directly after the Academy’s traditional broadcast window ended, allowing ABC to maintain consistent primetime programming while capturing the largest possible audience for the Academy’s flagship ceremony.

Where Is the Oscars 2025 Being Held?

The 97th Academy Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, located in the heart of Hollywood, Los Angeles. This venue has served as the permanent home for the Academy Awards ceremony since 2013, offering state-of-the-art audio and visual technology that aligns with the technical excellence celebrated by the Academy.

The Dolby Theatre provides seating for approximately 3,300 guests and features a stage specifically designed for the Oscars ceremony. Its location within the Ovation Hollywood entertainment complex places it among other major entertainment venues, creating a concentrated hub for Hollywood’s awards season activities.

Venue History and Significance

Since assuming hosting duties for the Oscars in 2013, the Dolby Theatre has become synonymous with the Academy Awards ceremony. The venue’s selection reflects the Academy’s commitment to showcasing Hollywood’s achievements in purpose-built facilities that can accommodate the ceremony’s complex production requirements, celebrity attendance, and global broadcast needs.

Venue Access

The Dolby Theatre is situated within Ovation Hollywood, a shopping center featuring restaurants and entertainment venues. Security measures during awards season are extensive, with street closures and credential requirements for attendees.

Who Is Hosting the Oscars 2025 and Key Dates?

Comedian Conan O’Brien led the ceremony as host, marking his inaugural appearance in this role. O’Brien brought his signature comedic style to the Oscars stage, joining a lineage of entertainers that has included Billy Crystal, Johnny Carson, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jimmy Kimmel. His selection represented the Academy’s continued practice of choosing established comedians who can navigate the ceremony’s blend of entertainment, tribute, and award presentation. For information on upcoming games, check out When the Oilers play next.

The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were announced on January 23, 2025, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Actors Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang presented the nominations in a ceremony that saw Emilia Pérez make history with 13 nominations, setting a new record for non-English-language productions. The film tied with The Brutalist in nomination totals, while Wicked also secured 10 nominations, demonstrating strong recognition for large-scale productions.

Key Dates in the Oscars 2025 Season

  • November 17, 2024: 15th Governors Awards ceremony at Ray Dolby Ballroom
  • January 23, 2025: Nominations announcement at Samuel Goldwyn Theater
  • March 2, 2025: 97th Academy Awards ceremony at Dolby Theatre
  • March 3, 2025: Live with Kelly and Mark broadcast from the Dolby Theatre
  • April 29, 2025: Scientific and Technical Awards at Academy Museum (hosted by Diego Luna)
Production Team

The ceremony was produced by Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, with Hamish Hamilton serving as director. Hamilton’s extensive experience directing major live events brought production continuity to the Academy’s flagship ceremony.

How to Watch the Oscars 2025?

Viewers had multiple options for watching the 97th Academy Awards. Traditional television audiences could tune to ABC for the live broadcast, which reached over 200 territories internationally. The ceremony was also streamed live on Hulu for the first time in Oscars history, representing a significant expansion of digital accessibility for the Academy Awards.

ABC offered additional viewing options through its website and connected TV applications, though these required cable authentication for live streaming access. The streaming partnership with Hulu marked a notable shift in how audiences access flagship entertainment events, reflecting broader industry trends toward digital distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the 97th Academy Awards ceremony take place?

The 97th Academy Awards ceremony took place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Who hosted the Oscars 2025?

Comedian Conan O’Brien hosted the 97th Academy Awards, marking his debut in this role for the Academy Awards ceremony.

What time did the Oscars 2025 ceremony start?

The main ceremony began at 7 p.m. Eastern Time (4 p.m. Pacific Time), with the red carpet pre-show starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Where was the Oscars 2025 held?

The ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, which has been the permanent home of the Academy Awards since 2013.

Which film won Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars?

Anora won Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards, with Mikey Madison also winning Best Actress for her performance in the film.

How can I watch the Oscars 2025?

The 97th Academy Awards aired live on ABC television and was streamed for the first time on Hulu. Viewers could also access the broadcast through ABC’s website and connected TV applications with cable authentication.


Freddie James Morgan

About the author

Freddie James Morgan

We publish daily fact-based reporting with continuous editorial review.