The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) on Thursday announced airdates for the next three Oscar ceremonies: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016; Feb. 26, 2017; and March 4, 2018.
The 2018 Oscars are a week later than usual, because every four years, the Academy delays things to avoid the Winter Olympics.
All the Oscar ceremonies, as usual, will air live on ABC and in multiple countries around the world. The announcement signals to the other awards events to set their own dates and venues.
The three-year plan is unusual: on April 17 last year, the Acad unveiled its dates for the 87th Oscars, but nothing beyond.
Several years ago, the Acad signed Craig Zadan and Neil Meron to produce three Oscar shows to both avoid the year-to-year mindset of finding a new producer for each show and to give the producers a chance to build on their learning. Zadan and Meron produced the 2013-15 kudos, announcing that they will not return next year.
AMPAS moved the ceremonies a month earlier for the 76th awards, held February 29, 2004.
