Hollywood's biggest and most coveted night, the Oscars, is now headed onto the palm of every cinephile's hands. In a surprising new twist as 2025 comes to a close, the Academy has decided to bolt from its traditional streaming networks.

As the stars of the night, with their monumental speeches and great movies, enter a new home, this move signifies Hollywood's great shift in streaming culture. Now it is bringing easy access, innovation, and redefining the next generation of film enthusiasts. 

Where are the Oscars moving in the near future?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that the Oscars will be streaming on YouTube starting in 2029. This marks a significant change for one of the most celebrated television events, which has been broadcast on ABC for decades. 

In a new press release, the Academy has disclosed that the Oscar ceremony will be aired by ABC in its 100th year, slated for 2028. However, after that, the ceremony will move to YouTube, making the live stream free for over two billion YouTube subscribers globally and in the US.

YouTube will reportedly broadcast the Oscars from 2029 to at least 2033. Subscribers will not only stream Hollywood's biggest night for free but also get to see the ceremonies where the Academy presents honorary Oscars and more, as per the press release. 

Before the 101st edition of the Academy Awards, streaming the event will continue on its traditional broadcast. However, the major move to the Google-owned service in 2029 will mark the beginning of a new era for the world's movie buffs, who previously had limited access to the entirety of the event.

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The great news besides the main ceremony is viewers across the globe will see every Oscar event for free on YouTube.

With this global collaboration, YouTube will have exclusive rights to broadcast the Oscars main event live, the red carpet, the Governors Ball ceremony, behind-the-scenes content, the Oscars Nominees Luncheon, the Scientific and Technical Awards, and the Student Academy Awards. YouTube will also provide everyone free access to the Academy member and filmmaker interviews, education programs, podcasts, and others.

The new YouTube streaming deal does not end there, because Google Arts & Culture will also offer digital access to several Academy Museum exhibitions. It also embarks on an ambitious journey to digitize the Academy Collection, which preserves more than 52 million film-related items. 

Seeing it as an opportunity to celebrate cinema, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said in the press release, "This collaboration will leverage YouTube’s vast reach and infuse the Oscars and other Academy programming with innovative opportunities for engagement while honoring our legacy."

While Netflix has been winning big in sports and the podcast industry, alongside bagging The Actors Awards for 2026, YouTube has pocketed Hollywood's most significant night, alongside an aim to improve film education access. Meanwhile, the 98th Academy Awards will continue to air live on March 15, 2026, on ABC and Hulu. 

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Are you excited to stream the entire Oscars on YouTube in 2029? Comment your thoughts below.