The way we watch the Oscars is about to change in a major way.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially signed a multi-year agreement with YouTube that will make the platform the exclusive global home of the Oscars beginning in 2029. The deal kicks off with the 101st Oscars and runs through 2033 — marking a new era for one of the most iconic nights in entertainment.
Starting in 2029, the Oscars will stream live and for free on YouTube to more than two billion viewers worldwide, with YouTube TV subscribers in the U.S. also able to watch. And this isn’t just about the ceremony itself. The partnership includes red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes access, Governors Ball moments, and additional exclusive content that traditionally lived behind paywalls or broadcast limitations.
Accessibility is also a major focus here. YouTube will offer features like closed captioning and multiple audio-language tracks, helping the Academy reach a truly global audience in ways traditional television never fully could.
But the Oscars are just one piece of the puzzle.
This agreement opens the door to year-round Academy programming exclusively on the Oscars YouTube channel. That includes the Governors Awards, Oscars nominations announcements, the Nominees Luncheon, the Student Academy Awards, the Scientific and Technical Awards, filmmaker and Academy member interviews, film education initiatives, podcasts, and more. For film fans, this essentially turns YouTube into a centralized hub for everything the Academy does beyond Oscar Sunday.
There’s also a preservation and education component that shouldn’t be overlooked. Through Google Arts & Culture, the partnership will help digitize select Academy Museum exhibitions and portions of the Academy Collection — the largest film-related archive in the world, housing more than 52 million items. That means unprecedented digital access to film history for audiences around the globe.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor called the partnership a step toward expanding access and engagement while honoring the Oscars’ legacy, emphasizing that the Academy’s work is increasingly international — and needs a platform that reflects that reality.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan echoed that sentiment, describing the Oscars as a cultural institution and framing the partnership as a way to inspire new generations of filmmakers and film lovers without losing sight of what the Oscars represent.
It’s also worth noting that this change doesn’t happen overnight. The Academy’s current domestic broadcast partnership with Disney’s ABC will remain in place through the 100th Oscars in 2028, with Disney’s Buena Vista International continuing to handle international broadcasts during that time.
Still, make no mistake: this is a defining shift.
Moving the Oscars to YouTube signals a future where prestige events meet audiences where they already are — on-demand, global, and digital-first. Whether this reshapes how awards shows are perceived, watched, and valued remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Oscars aren’t just adapting to the times — they’re fully stepping into them.
