To strengthen the credibility of the Oscars the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences now requires mandatory film viewing from its voting members. Starting from the 2026 Oscar ceremony, all members of the Academy must verify their viewing of every nominated movie before they submit their ballot.

This voting procedure modification aims to maintain fair competition while solving old problems regarding films being missed because oflimited exposure or viewer exhaustion. Before this change, the Academy maintained an honor-based system since members were simply expected to watch all qualified releases of films for every category, despite these unverified claims. Recent years have brought growing nomination numbers, which have resulted in several Academy members admitting they did not watch all films thereby raising questions about the selection validity.

In order to implement the new regulation, the Academy will be using its members-only streaming service, where viewing activity by the members will be tracked. For movies that are watched outside of the platform—i.e., in cinemas or at film festivals—voters will be required to "fill out a form" that describes when and where they viewed the movie. This system would keep things as transparent and accountable as possible while not entirely hindering the liberty of how voters watch nominated materials.

The change will most significantly impact top-level categories like Best Picture, which typically has ten nominated films on an average. Studios competing in this category typically mount advanced promotion campaigns that include private screenings, red carpet, and interactive Q&A sessions with cast and crew. By ensuring voters actually view the films, the Academy hopes to make the process more meaningful and fairer for all competitors.

In another notable update, the Academy has clarified its stance on artificial intelligence in film making. According to new guidance issued on Monday, the use of AI and other digital tools will "neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination." The rule emphasises that technological elements in film making will not be a cause for disqualification as long as the project is fundamentally driven by human creativity.

"The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship when choosing which movie to award," the guidance states. This clarification comes in the wake of ongoing debates around AI use in films like "The Brutalist," which employed AI during post-production, and "Emilia Perez," which featured voice cloning technology.

While these innovations have opened up debate regarding new dynamics in film making, the most recent move by the Academy is one of equilibrium—accepting new technology usage without compromising on the creative value that characterizes Oscar-winning productions.

The 2026 Oscars ceremony will be held on March 15 and will be hosted by Conan O'Brien. The awards will mark the beginning of a new era for the awarding body by blending technology advancement with a new focus on true artistic interaction.

Mark your calendars! The 98th #Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026. pic.twitter.com/vhoYGGh5Pz

& mdash; The Academy (@TheAcademy) April 21, 2025

These updates to policy reinforce the Academy's desire to maintain its relevance as an industry becomes increasingly dynamic and constantly changing while also keeping true to the established fundamentals of visual storytelling.