From Gothams to Oscars: The Key Dates Defining Awards Season 2025 – 2026
With the Gotham Award nominations dropping last week, awards season has officially entered the next phase, and this year’s schedule comes with a few key twists that could shake up the race. The campaign machine is shifting into high gear, with contenders making their first real plays for visibility and momentum. But this year, the calendar looks a little different, and those subtle shifts could completely reframe the race.
Critics Take the First Swing
Traditionally, the Golden Globes have kicked off the new year’s televised awards frenzy, giving a glossy, champagne fuelled launch to the Oscar narrative, but not this year. The Critics Choice Awards will be the first major ceremony of 2025, airing on the 4th of January, and that change is more significant than it might seem.
The first televised show often sets the tone and momentum for the season. With critics leading the charge, we can expect them to champion the films and performances they truly love, often going against the grain of traditional awards thinking. Their choices tend to spotlight artistry over popularity, with the core goal of boosting certain narratives, which could make this year’s early results especially influential.
BAFTA’s Late Arrival Changes the Game
But the real bombshell? BAFTA nominations now land after the Oscar nominations, a massive shift for awards predictors. Normally, BAFTA acts as a crucial indicator for the Oscars, helping to clarify who’s surging and who’s slipping as final voting nears.
Without that precursor the Oscar race will feel more unpredictable than ever. Analysts will have to rely more on the guilds, their gut, and the critics groups to read the tea leaves. It’s a shake up that could allow for more surprises, more late-breaking momentum, and maybe even a few underdog breakthroughs. In short: it’s going to make things fun again.
The Key Dates That Matter
Of course, the full season is still packed. The Governors Awards (16 November) will once again serve as the unofficial campaign mixer of the year, that glittering night where contenders and Academy voters share cocktails and camera flashes. From there, it’s a sprint through December’s nomination blitz and into a January overflowing with major announcements.
Here are the key dates to keep your eye on:
November
16/11: Governors Awards
December
1/12: Gotham Awards
3/12: National Board of Review (NBR)
3/12: Independent Spirit Award Nominations
5/12: Critics Choice Award Nominations (CCA)
8/12: Golden Globe Award Nominations (GG)
16/12: Oscar Shortlists
January
4/1: Critics Choice Awards (CCA)
7/1: Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations (SAG)
8/1: Directors Guild of America Nominations (DGA)
9/1: BAFTA Longlist (BAFTA)
9/1: Producers Guild of America Nominations (PGA)
11/1: Golden Globes (GG)
12/1: Oscar Nomination Voting Begins
16/1: Oscar Nomination Voting Ends
22/1: Oscar Nominations
27/1: BAFTA Nominations
27/1: Writers Guild of America Nominations (WGA)
February
7/2: Directors Guild of America Awards (DGA)
15/2: Independent Spirit Awards
22/2: BAFTA Awards
26/2: Oscar Voting Begins
28/2: Producers Guild of America Awards (PGA)
March
1/3: Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG)
5/3: Oscar Voting Ends
8/3: Writers Guild of America Awards (WGA)
15/3: The Academy Awards
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