With wildfires still devastating Los Angeles and the surrounding area, the entertainment industry’s focus is on aid and recovery, which means major changes for some of Hollywood’s most prestigious award shows, including the 2025 Oscars and Grammys. Due to a particularly dry season combined with strong and ever-shifting winds, wildfires from the surrounding area pushed into many of the residential and commercial areas of the city, destroying homes and businesses, and costing dozens of lives already. Find out how you can help, donate, and stay informed about the 2025 LA wildfires here.
With so much turmoil and devastation affecting the population of Los Angeles right on the cusp of award season, some major changes are coming to the entertainment industry’s most popular and significant ceremonies. Some of the largest are shifting their dates to ensure that the immediate focus in Los Angeles remains on helping those most impacted by the wildfires. Given the reach of the major shows, some of the show schedules themselves will be altered to amplify the delivery of information about how people around the country and around the globe can help aid in relief efforts.
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The Oscars 2025 Nominations Have Been Delayed
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The Critics Choice Awards Have Been Postponed Until February
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Will The Oscars 2025 Be Canceled?
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The 2025 Grammys Are Going Ahead, With A Focus On Fundraising
The Oscars 2025 Nominations Have Been Delayed
The Original Announcement Was Supposed To Come On January 17th, 2025
With the wildfires still raging, largely uncontrolled, 10 days after they began, the decision was made to delay the announcement of the Oscar nominees. The original announcement of the Academy Award nominees was originally set for the morning of Friday, January 17th, 2025, but it will now take place live on the Oscars’ YouTube channel at 8:30 AM EST/5:30 AM PST. Each of the nominees for the categories will be announced in order live on the YouTube channel in real time, and disseminated on the main Academy Awards social media platforms as well.
The Critics Choice Awards Have Been Postponed Until February
The Show Was Originally Set To Air January 12th, 2025
The 31st annual Critics Choice Awards was originally set for January 12th, 2025, but shortly after the wildfires began spreading uncontrollably on January 7th, the decision was made to postpone the show to January 26th. Now, with the fires still burning through multiple areas of Los Angeles, the show has been postponed again. While no official date has been set for the ceremony, it will reportedly take place at some time in February, with the new date announcement coming in the next few days.
The Critics Choice Awards will still take place at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica with host Chelsea Handler. The original broadcast will air on the E! Network, and will then be made available the next day on the Peacock streaming platform. As with all the awards shows ᴀssociated with the entertainment industry, the audience can expect the format to change slightly to emphasize relief efforts and highlight the heroes and victims of the wildfire disaster.
Will The Oscars 2025 Be Canceled?
As It Stands, The Show Is Still Planned, But With An Altered Focus
As of now, the 97th Academy Awards will proceed as planned on Sunday, March 2nd, 2025 at 7:00PM EST/4:00PM EST. While it’s still possible something will change between now and March, especially depending on how far the fires continue to spread, the committee behind the Oscars is currently committed to moving forward with the original date. In a statement to the LA Times, Academy CEO Bill Kramer noted:
After consultation with ABC, our board, and other key stakeholders in the Los Angeles and film communities, we have made the carefully considered decision to proceed with the 97th Oscars ceremony as planned on March 2nd.
Kramer’s reᴀssurance comes amidst a bevy of online rumors that the show would be canceled, fueled by the British Tabloid The Sun. While the show will carry on as planned, Kramer made sure to note that the focus of the show will change to ensure that the devastation in Los Angeles remains at the forefront of the national (and global conversation). He noted that the show is a powerful platform that can be used for good in that way:
This year’s ceremony will include special moments acknowledging those who fought so bravely against the wildfires. We feel that we must go forward to support our film community and to use our global platform to bring attention to these critical moments in our history.
While the awards will still be handed out as normal, the audience can likely expect host Conan O’Brien to keep the other parts of the proceedings light while ensuring the focus stays on the victims and heroes of the wildfire disaster. The show should also act as a powerful platform for encouraging donations for relief efforts.
The 2025 Grammys Are Going Ahead, With A Focus On Fundraising
The Show Will Center Around How To Help Those Affected By The Wildfires
The 67th annual Grammy Awards, celebrating the best in music from the previous year, are still slated to proceed at the original time and date, on Sunday, February 2nd at 8:00PM EST/5:00PM EST. Still set to take place at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles, the show will air live on CBS and Paramount+. The show itself will feature an altered format that will focus on fundraising efforts to ᴀssist those affected by the LA wildfires.
Per the ᴀssociated Press, most of the events that typically take place during the week leading up to the Grammys, hosted by the music industry’s biggest labels and other major music insтιтutions, have been canceled. The resources typically allocated to hosting the events is instead being funneled toward wildfire relief efforts. Several million dollars have already been donated by various enтιтies and labels ᴀssociated with the Grammys, with the expectation of millions more to flow in thanks to the focus provided by the Grammys.
Source: The ᴀssociated Press, Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter
For information about locally-operating organizations that are directly aiding in relief efforts on the ground in Los Angeles, see below.
Organization/Charity |
How to Help |
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The California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund |
Financial donations |
Red Cross |
Financial donations, volunteering |
World Central Kitchen |
Financial donations, volunteering |
Emergency Network Los Angeles |
Financial donations, volunteering |
L.A. Works |
List of volunteer & donation opportunities for local charities |
CaliforniansForAll.ca.gov |
Volunteer opportunities |
LA Regional Food Bank |
Financial donations, local food donations |
Pasadena Humane Society |
Financial donations, food, crates, beds, pet items, volunteering |
No Res Gourmet |
Financial donations, cooking, packing, distributing meals |