The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has introduced a new rule ahead of the 2026 Oscars — and fans are shocked it wasn’t already in place!
From now on, “Academy members must now watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round for the Oscars.” Final ballots will only unlock once voters confirm they’ve seen every nominated film.
The Academy will enforce the rule by monitoring its official screening room. If members view films elsewhere, such as festivals or private events, they must provide proof of when and where they watched them.
The announcement sparked widespread confusion online. One user wrote, “THEY WEREN’T DOING THAT BEFORE?????????????????????” Another said, “So prior to this they didn’t have to watch all the films? This goes to show that these award shows are not real!” A third added, “Wait what … I thought this was already a rule. since it’s apparently new, were they really voting by drawing movie titles out of a hat?”
“This should have been the rule from the start. How do you vote on winners without even watching all the films,” another pointed out.
Until now, the Oscars operated on an honour system, unlike the BAFTAs, which require mandatory viewing.
Other changes include a new award for Achievement in Casting and also in Stunt work, and a statement on AI, confirming, “the tools neither help nor harm the chances of achieving a nomination,” with human creative input remaining central to judging.
