This bold move headlines a slew of new rules that aim to make the Oscars fairer, more inclusive, and maybe even a little more unpredictable. From AI clarifications to a shiny new casting award, here’s everything you need to know about the Academy’s latest playbook.
A Game-Changing Voting Rule
For years, the Oscars operated on something of an honor system. Voters were encouraged to watch all nominated films before picking their winners, but there was no hard rule enforcing it—except in a couple of categories like Best International Feature and Best Documentary Feature. Those categories required voters to confirm they’d seen all five nominees in theaters, a rule that led to some jaw-dropping upsets, like The Lives of Others sneaking past Pan’s Labyrinth in 2007. Now, the Academy is taking that logic and applying it across the board.
Under the new rule, if you haven’t watched every nominee in a category—whether it’s Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, or Best Animated Short—you’re out of luck. You can’t vote in that category. Period. The rule is category-specific, so voters can still weigh in on categories where they’ve done their homework while sitting out the ones they haven’t. It’s a move that could shake up the Oscars in a big way.
Why? For one, it might shrink the voting pool. The Academy has nearly 11,000 members, but not everyone has the time (or inclination) to watch 40 feature films and 15 shorts in a given year. If fewer voters participate, we could see more unexpected winners, as smaller, more dedicated groups of voters have a bigger say. Think of it like a book club where only the people who actually read the book get to weigh in on the discussion—suddenly, the conversation gets a lot more interesting.
The Academy is making it easier for voters to comply, though. All nominated films will be available on the members-only Academy Screening Room, a digital platform that lets voters stream movies from the comfort of their homes. Plus, there’s a “seen elsewhere” option, so members who catch films in theaters or through other means can still check them off their list. The Academy will also have ways to verify what voters have watched, though they haven’t spilled the details on how that’ll work. Big Brother, meet Hollywood.
But… Why?
The new rule is a response to a long-standing gripe in the industry: some Oscar voters don’t watch all the nominees. In the past, voters could (and did) cast ballots based on buzz, studio campaigns, or just personal biases. That’s how some films with big marketing budgets or A-list stars ended up winning over smaller, lesser-known gems. By forcing voters to watch everything, the Academy is trying to level the playing field and ensure that every nominee gets a fair shot.
It’s also a nod to the idea that the Oscars should reward craft and artistry, not just popularity. A voter who’s seen all five Best Director nominees, for example, is more likely to appreciate the nuances of each filmmaker’s work than someone who just picks the name they recognize. The hope is that this rule will lead to more thoughtful, merit-based voting—and maybe a few more surprises on awards night.
Of course, there’s a flip side. Some worry the rule could discourage voters from participating at all, especially in categories like Best Animated Short or Best Sound, where the nominees might not be as high-profile. And while the Academy Screening Room makes watching easier, it’s still a big time commitment. Will busy industry professionals—directors, actors, editors—really sit through every single nominee? Only time will tell.
More Changes on the Horizon
The “watch everything” rule isn’t the only update for 2026. The Academy is rolling out a handful of other changes that reflect its ongoing efforts to evolve with the times. One of the most exciting is the introduction of a brand-new Oscar for Achievement in Casting. Set to debut at this year’s ceremony, this award will recognize the unsung heroes who assemble the perfect ensemble for a film. Think of the casting directors who brought together the iconic casts of The Godfather or Barbie—they’re finally getting their moment in the spotlight.
The casting award will have a unique process. First, voters will narrow down a shortlist of 10 films through a preliminary round. Then, the Academy will host “bake-off” events, where casting directors give presentations and answer questions about their work. A second round of voting will determine the final nominees. It’s a rigorous process, but it shows how seriously the Academy is taking this new category.
Another big change: the final Oscar ballots will now list all designated nominees in every category, not just the film’s title. In the past, only the acting categories included the names of the nominees (like “Meryl Streep for The Post”). For other categories, like Best Cinematography or Best Original Score, voters just saw the movie’s name. Now, the individual artists—cinematographers, composers, costume designers—will get their names on the ballot, giving them the recognition they deserve.
The cinematography category is also getting a makeover. Starting in 2026, there’ll be a shortlist of 10 to 20 films before the final nominees are chosen. This mirrors the process already used in categories like Best Visual Effects and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, where a preliminary round helps narrow the field. It’s a way to shine a light on more films and give voters a chance to dig deeper into the craft.
The “AI Question”
One of the more intriguing updates isn’t a rule change but a statement on a hot-button issue: artificial intelligence. AI has been a lightning rod in Hollywood, with films like The Brutalist catching flak for using generative AI tools. The Academy’s Science and Technology Council stepped in to clarify where the Oscars stand on the matter.
In a nutshell: AI doesn’t make or break a film’s chances. The Academy’s stance is that tools like AI are just that—tools. What matters is the human creativity behind the work. “The Academy and each branch will judge the achievement, taking into account the degree to which a human was at the heart of the creative authorship,” the statement reads. In other words, if a filmmaker uses AI to enhance their vision, that’s fine, as long as the human is still calling the shots. It’s a pragmatic approach that sidesteps the heated debates about AI’s role in art.
Cracking Down on Campaign Shenanigans
Finally, the Academy is tightening the screws on awards campaigning. Hollywood’s awards season is notorious for its glitzy parties, splashy ads, and sometimes shady tactics. The new rules sharpen the language around what’s allowed, especially on social media. Posts, reposts, shares, or comments that “disparage” a film’s techniques or subject matter are now explicitly off-limits. If an Academy member, studio, or filmmaker crosses the line, they could face penalties.
This rule is a response to the increasingly toxic tone of some Oscar campaigns, where rivals sometimes take swipes at each other online. By cracking down on negative campaigning, the Academy is trying to keep the focus on the films themselves, not the drama behind them.
What’s Next?
The full list of rules for the 98th Oscars is available on the Academy’s website, but the big takeaway is this: the Oscars are evolving. The new voting rule, the casting award, the AI statement, and the campaign crackdown all point to an organization that’s trying to stay relevant in a rapidly changing industry. Whether these changes will lead to a fairer, more exciting awards show remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the 2026 Oscars are going to be unlike any we’ve seen before.
For film fans, the message is clear: if you want a say in who takes home that golden statue, you’d better start watching. And for the nominees, it’s a chance to know that their work is being seen—and judged—by voters who’ve given them a fair shake. Here’s to an Oscars season full of surprises, upsets, and maybe a few underdog victories.
