What is the story about?
The world watches the Oscars every year and wonders, "Who exactly decides who wins?" One of the world's most reputable accounting companies, a century-old business, and thousands of professionals in the film industry participate in a well-planned, multi-stage voting procedure that holds the key to the solution.
The 98th Academy Awards were held on March 15 at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. Final voting began on February 26 and ended on March 5, just 10 days before the event on March 15.
Here is an in-depth overview of the procedures used to select Academy Award winners, including ranked-choice votes and the PricewaterhouseCoopers seal.
Who Gets to Vote?
Since 1929, the Academy Awards, also referred to as the Oscars, have been presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. A voting group of roughly 10,000 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) members from the film industry selects the Oscars.
The selection procedure has become more demanding over time, with several voting rounds deciding whether films move on to the ceremony's over 20 categories. With 10,136 members eligible to vote for the 98th Academy Awards, the Academy has now surpassed 10,000 Oscar voters for the first time.
According to the Academy's website, secret online ballots are used to cast votes, and the results are announced live prior to the annual ceremony. Thousands of film professionals from 19 sectors, including acting, directing, writing, editing, sound, and visual effects, constitute the Academy.
The 98th Academy Awards candidates were announced on January 22 by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman, following the beginning of nomination voting in November 2025.
Three Stages: Preliminary, Nominations, and Finals
Stage 1 – Preliminary Voting
Preliminary voting, which covers 12 award categories, comes before the nominations voting. A secret online ballot is used to select a shortlist from among all eligible and qualifying entries in the preliminary voting phase, which is open to eligible voting members, usually from the associated branch. The Academy then issues a press release announcing the films that made the short list.
The Preliminary Voting includes the following 12 award categories:
Animated Short Film
Casting
Cinematography
Documentary Feature Film
Documentary Short Film
International Feature Film
Live Action Short Film
Makeup and Hairstyling
Music (Original Score)
Music (Original Song)
Sound
Visual Effects
Stage 2 – Nominations Voting
During the nominations round, votes are cast in each of the 24 award categories. Certain categories may be open to members from all voting branches, but the majority of categories are decided by eligible voting members of the relevant branch. Eligible members from each of the 19 Academy branches choose the nominees for Best Picture.
Members who cast ballots in the second phase of nomination voting are required to watch every film on the shortlist in some categories, such as Best Animated Short Film, Best International Feature Film, and Best Live Action Short Film.
Stage 3 – Finals Voting
Every Academy member who qualifies may take part in the final round and cast a vote in each of the 24 award categories. The Oscars show then makes a live announcement of the winners.
The independent accounting company PricewaterhouseCoopers tabulates the secret online ballots used for each round of Oscar voting. PwC has been the Academy's go-to tabulator for decades. The two officials who bring the prestigious sealed envelopes to the event are among the most identifiable, yet anonymous, figures on Oscar night.
While the majority of Oscar categories have five nominations, Best Picture may have up to 10. There will soon be new awards in addition to the Academy's established 24 competitive categories.
The Academy's Board of Governors declared in 2024 that the 98th Academy Awards would feature Achievement in Casting, while the 100th celebration in 2027 would have Achievement in Stunt Design, according to PEOPLE.
The 98th Academy Awards were held on March 15 at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. Final voting began on February 26 and ended on March 5, just 10 days before the event on March 15.
Here is an in-depth overview of the procedures used to select Academy Award winners, including ranked-choice votes and the PricewaterhouseCoopers seal.
Who Gets to Vote?
Since 1929, the Academy Awards, also referred to as the Oscars, have been presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. A voting group of roughly 10,000 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) members from the film industry selects the Oscars.
The selection procedure has become more demanding over time, with several voting rounds deciding whether films move on to the ceremony's over 20 categories. With 10,136 members eligible to vote for the 98th Academy Awards, the Academy has now surpassed 10,000 Oscar voters for the first time.
According to the Academy's website, secret online ballots are used to cast votes, and the results are announced live prior to the annual ceremony. Thousands of film professionals from 19 sectors, including acting, directing, writing, editing, sound, and visual effects, constitute the Academy.
The 98th Academy Awards candidates were announced on January 22 by Danielle Brooks and Lewis Pullman, following the beginning of nomination voting in November 2025.
Three Stages: Preliminary, Nominations, and Finals
Stage 1 – Preliminary Voting
Preliminary voting, which covers 12 award categories, comes before the nominations voting. A secret online ballot is used to select a shortlist from among all eligible and qualifying entries in the preliminary voting phase, which is open to eligible voting members, usually from the associated branch. The Academy then issues a press release announcing the films that made the short list.
The Preliminary Voting includes the following 12 award categories:
Animated Short Film
Casting
Cinematography
Documentary Feature Film
Documentary Short Film
International Feature Film
Live Action Short Film
Makeup and Hairstyling
Music (Original Score)
Music (Original Song)
Sound
Visual Effects
Stage 2 – Nominations Voting
During the nominations round, votes are cast in each of the 24 award categories. Certain categories may be open to members from all voting branches, but the majority of categories are decided by eligible voting members of the relevant branch. Eligible members from each of the 19 Academy branches choose the nominees for Best Picture.
Members who cast ballots in the second phase of nomination voting are required to watch every film on the shortlist in some categories, such as Best Animated Short Film, Best International Feature Film, and Best Live Action Short Film.
Stage 3 – Finals Voting
Every Academy member who qualifies may take part in the final round and cast a vote in each of the 24 award categories. The Oscars show then makes a live announcement of the winners.
The independent accounting company PricewaterhouseCoopers tabulates the secret online ballots used for each round of Oscar voting. PwC has been the Academy's go-to tabulator for decades. The two officials who bring the prestigious sealed envelopes to the event are among the most identifiable, yet anonymous, figures on Oscar night.
While the majority of Oscar categories have five nominations, Best Picture may have up to 10. There will soon be new awards in addition to the Academy's established 24 competitive categories.
The Academy's Board of Governors declared in 2024 that the 98th Academy Awards would feature Achievement in Casting, while the 100th celebration in 2027 would have Achievement in Stunt Design, according to PEOPLE.
