From award snubs to showstopping fashion, theOscarsalways deliver a night of surprises — but even more shocking are the strict etiquette rules nominees and attendees must follow.
Presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the Oscars (also known as the Academy Awards) recognize the most outstanding films, performances, and creative achievements of the year. The Oscars have been held at the iconic Dolby Theater in Los Angeles since 2001, with the biggest names in Hollywood in attendance.
Tickets to the Oscars are incredibly hard to come by, and moreover, they include their own set of rules. Guests must abide by the academy's specific dress code and adhere to the venue's policies. The night's winners and seat-fillers are subject to additional rules as well.
The 98th Academy Awards will air on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET. In the meantime, learn more about the rules all Oscar nominees and attendees have to follow.
There is a strict formal dress code
During her decades-long run as the awards show's fashion consultant, Edith Head enforced a white tie dress code, in which actresses were requested to wear "formal evening gowns either maxi or floor length [in] preferably pastel shades," peran archived notefrom the AMPAS. "Mini" or "day length" dresses were discouraged as well as the color red and "glittery looks."
Men were requested to dress in "white tie with conventional formal evening accessories."
The event has since transitioned to a more black-tie affair, and in recent years, the Academy has encouraged attendees to bring sustainable fashion to the red carpet by wearing vintage, borrowed, or recycled looks, per itsSustainable Style Guide.
Bathroom breaks should be timed to commercial breaks
Once the cameras start rolling, guests are asked to remain seated, which means bathroom breaks should be timed around commercial breaks.
In 2013, a longtime AMPAS member and Oscars attendee toldVanity Fair, "Time your toilet needs so that you can get to the bathroom and back before the telecast continues, or you won't be able to get back in until the next commercial break."
Outside food and drinks are prohibited
The Dolby Theater doesn't permit outside food or drinks, including water — however, that hasn't stopped some celebrities from sneaking in snacks.
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At the 2014 Oscars, host Ellen DeGeneres memorablyhanded out pizza slicesin between award presentations. In 2020, child actress Julia Butters wasspotted eating a turkey sandwichon the red carpet.
"It's the Oscars, there can't be any regrets. There's no going back," she told PEOPLE at the time.
Acceptance speeches shouldn't exceed 45 seconds
The AMPAS introduced a rule limiting acceptance speeches to 45 seconds, at which point play-off music begins. However, many winners still go over the time limit.
The longest Oscar speech in history belongs to Adrien Brody, whose Best Actor acceptance monologue in 2025lasted five minutes and 40 seconds.
"I'm wrapping up, please, please, please. I'm wrapping up. I will wrap up. Please. Turn the music off," he said mid-speech.
Seat fillers have a strict set of rules
To maintain the appearance of a full audience, the venue uses seat fillers to take the place of nominees and attendees during bathroom breaks or if someone skips out early.
In 2026, content creator Arjun Manjunath spoke to PEOPLE about hisexperience being a seat filler at major awards shows. According to Manjunath, there is a strict formal dress code that seat fillers must abide by. And, they aren't supposed to speak to talent unless a celebrity initiates a conversation first."You can't talk to them unless they talk to you first — only organic interactions," Manjuath told PEOPLE. "It was very dystopian. VeryHunger Gamesvibes."
Winners aren't allowed to sell their Oscar statues
How much is an Oscar statue worth? Despite its 24-karat gold plating, its resale value is just $1 due to AMPAS regulations.
"Award winners shall not sell or otherwise dispose of the Oscar statuette, nor permit it to be sold or disposed of by operation of law, without first offering to sell it to the Academy for the sum of $1.00. This provision shall apply also to the heirs and assigns of Academy Award winners who may acquire a statuette by gift or bequest,"states the Academy's rules.
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From award snubs to showstopping fashion, theOscarsalways deliver a night of surprises — but even more shocking are the ...
