Oscar nominations postponed to January 23 amid Los Angeles wildfires

The Oscars nominations have faced a second delay as wildfires rage in Los Angeles, disrupting Hollywood's awards season. The Academy has rescheduled events to support the affected community.

In Short

• Oscar nominations have been delayed to January 23 due to the wildfires
• A virtual announcement without media coverage has been confirmed by the Academy
• The Los Angeles wildfires have disrupted Hollywood's awards season

The Oscar nominations have been delayed for a second time due to the Los Angeles wildfires, as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Initially, the Academy extended the voting period by two days to allow members more time to cast their ballots, moving the nominations' announcement to January 19.

However, the new date for the 97th Oscars nominations is now set for January 23, as confirmed by Academy chief executive Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang. The announcement will be made virtually without in-person media coverage.

In a joint statement, Kramer and Yang expressed their devastation over the impact of the fires and the losses faced by the community. They emphasised the Academy's role as a unifying force in the film industry and their commitment to standing together during these challenging times. To accommodate the ongoing situation, the Academy has made changes to scheduled events, including cancelling the annual nominees luncheon, to be sensitive to the region's infrastructure and lodging needs.

The Oscars ceremony is still slated to take place on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood.

The wildfires have disrupted Hollywood's awards season, affecting events like the Critics Choice Awards and Producers Guild Awards nominations. Additionally, the release of the Netflix series Love, Meghan, featuring the Duchess of Sussex, has been postponed. The series will now premiere on March 4 instead of January 15. The Duchess expressed gratitude to Netflix for supporting the delay to focus on those affected by the fires.

The California wildfires have claimed 24 lives, destroyed communities, and forced thousands to evacuate, including residents of celebrity-filled areas. Among those who lost their homes are actors Mel Gibson, Miles Teller, and Jeff Bridges, among others.