Oscars 2021 officially pushed back from February
The ceremony has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic
Last updated 16th Jun 2020
The 2021 Oscars have officially been pushed back, and will now take place on 25th April 2021, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have confirmed. This is only the fourth time in the event's history that the date has been changed.
The ceremony was initially meant to take place on 28th February, however it has now been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Academy took to their Instagram yesterday (15th June) to share further key dates, with the caption, 'Mark your calendars!' (sic).
The Academy, whose opening has been postponed from December 2020 to April 2021, have also announced an extended eligibility period for Oscars consideration. The period has been extended beyond the initial 31st December deadline, meaning a feature film must have a release date between 1st January 2020 and 28th February 2021.
Academy president, David Rubin, and Chief Executive, Dawn Hudson, have said, "For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times. They certainly have this year."
They continued, "Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalised for something beyond anyone’s control. This coming Oscars and the opening of our new museum will mark an historic moment, gathering movie fans around the world to unite through cinema."
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Following this news, the Academy have also delayed the annual honorary Oscars event, Governors Awards, to a date that is yet to be confirmed.