The race for the coveted golden statuettes is officially in its final stretch! Final voting for the 98th Academy Awards commenced yesterday, Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 9 a.m. PT, giving members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences just over a week to decide the winners. Balloting will close on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 5 p.m. PT, leading up to the grand ceremony on Sunday, March 15, 2026, live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.

As Oscar voters weigh their choices, all eyes are on this weekend's major precursor events. The 37th Producers Guild Awards will take place tomorrow, Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. While final polls for the PGA's top categories, including Theatrical Motion Pictures, closed on February 3, 2026, the results of this influential producers' poll are eagerly anticipated to provide clarity on potential Best Picture frontrunners.

Adding another layer of anticipation, the 32nd Actor Awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards, will stream live globally on Netflix this Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT from the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. Final voting for the Actor Awards concluded today, Friday, February 27, 2026, at 12 Noon PT. Actress Kristen Bell is set to host for the third time, and legendary actor Harrison Ford will be honored with the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award.

With a reported 10,136 voting members in the Academy, the competition remains fierce. The outcomes of the PGA and Actor Awards often serve as strong indicators for the eventual Oscar winners, particularly in the acting and Best Picture categories. This weekend's results could either solidify existing narratives or inject fresh unpredictability into what is already shaping up to be an enthralling awards season.