How Do Oscar Nominations Work? The Truth Behind the Selection Process (and Whether Voters Actually Have to Watch Every Movie)

Narrowing hundreds of eligible films down to a handful of Academy Award nominees is no small feat. But it’s a challenge members of Hollywood’s most prestigious organization take on every year.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has presented the Academy Awards — commonly known as the Oscars — since 1929. Over time, the selection process has grown increasingly rigorous, with multiple rounds of voting determining which films advance across the ceremony’s over 20 categories.

According to the Academy’s website, votes are cast through secret online ballots, with the results revealed during a live nomination announcement ahead of the annual ceremony. Nomination voting for the 98th Academy Awards began in November 2025, and nominees were announced on Jan. 22 by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman.

So, how do the Oscar nominations work? Here’s everything to know about the Academy Awards nomination process, including whether or not voters are required to watch every movie.

What are the criteria for Oscar nominations? 

While some categories have specific eligibility requirements, all films need to meet a baseline set of criteria to be considered. According to the official rulebook, movies must begin a seven-day theatrical run in at least one qualifying U.S. city between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of that year, and exceed 40 minutes in length, unless otherwise specified.

Films that were first released to the public outside of a theater, like on broadcast television or online, are not eligible for nomination.

How are Oscar nominations chosen? 

After the deadline for submissions passes, the voting process for nominees begins. First, a preliminary vote is held for all of the categories in December, and a shortlist of several is announced after that voting window closes. The Academy announced the shortlists for 12 categories in December 2025.

Weeks after the shortlists are determined and announced, nomination voting begins. Typically held in mid-January, this poll is open for four days, and the nominees are announced live after the voting window closes.

How many nominees are there in each category?

While most Oscar categories include five nominees, Best Picture can include up to 10 films. And in addition to the Academy’s long-standing 24 competitive categories, new honors are on the way.

In 2024, the Academy’s Board of Governors announced that Achievement in Casting would be introduced at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026, with Achievement in Stunt Design set to follow at the 100th ceremony in 2027.

Who can vote for Oscar nominations? 

Only members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can vote for Oscar nominations — and even they can’t vote for every category.

There are 20 branches of the Academy, each representing a different discipline within filmmaking, including actors, directors, writers, producers and editors. Outside of Best Picture, Best Animated Short Film and Best International Feature Film, members are only allowed to vote within their own field.

But this limitation applies only to nominations. When it comes to voting for Oscar winners, all Academy voting members are allowed to vote in all categories.

Do Oscar voters have to watch all the movies?

Some categories — like Best Animated Short Film, Best International Feature Film and Best Live Action Short Film — require members who vote in the second round of nomination voting to watch all the movies on the shortlist.

That rule was extended to voting on the Oscar winners in April 2025, when the Academy announced that members were now required to watch every nominated film in a category in order to cast a vote in the final round. The 98th Academy Awards in 2026 will mark the first time this rule is in place.

Some Academy members, like Kirsten Dunst, were already watching all the nominees, though.

In 2022, Dunst told Variety that she had seen “everything” already “because I’m a member of the Academy.”

When are the 2026 Oscars?

The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 15, 2026. Conan O’Brien will return to host, and the ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed live on Hulu.