The very strict secret rules like limited bathroom breaks that the Oscars have put in place

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The 98th Annual Academy Awards is the peak of awards season.

And the star-studded show, full of hopeful A-list nominees, comes with a tight list of guidelines.

This year’s event will once again be hosted at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles at 7pm EST/4pm PST.

Guests are expected to dress appropriately according to the academy’s guidelines and respect the venue’s rules.

Celebrities and seat fillers alike are subject to the same set of rules.

The shocking demands include bathroom breaks with parameters and a ban on outside refreshments.

Dress Code  

People magazine reports that Edith Head, the show’s famous costume designer, insisted everyone wear white tie attire while she worked on the program.

Guests were asked to wear long evening gowns – ideally maxi or floor-length – in light, pastel colors.

From what I’ve gathered looking through the Academy’s old records, it seems like they historically weren’t keen on films that were too short. They really valued a certain substantial length, and anything noticeably shorter wasn’t generally well-received.

They also discouraged the color red and ‘glittery’ ensembles.

Guests were instructed to wear white tie and traditional evening attire, according to the source.

Today’s awards shows are formal black-tie events, and now include guidelines for sustainable fashion.

We encourage everyone attending or being honored to choose sustainable fashion options like vintage, borrowed, or previously worn outfits.

Limited Bathroom Breaks 

When the show starts, please remain seated and only move around during the commercial breaks.

To make sure everyone follows the rules, anyone who leaves the theatre during the performance won’t be allowed back in until the next scheduled break.

An Academy member explained to Vanity Fair in 2013 that you should plan your bathroom breaks around the show’s schedule, because you won’t be allowed back in until the next commercial break if you miss anything.

No Outside Refreshments 

The Dolby Theatre does not allow visitors to bring food or drinks from outside – not even water.

During the 2014 Oscars, host Ellen DeGeneres surprised everyone by having pizza delivered and served to the audience between award announcements.

In 2020, people noticed young actress Julia Butters enjoying a turkey sandwich.

When she was just ten years old, she charmingly told the publication, ‘It’s the Oscars – you can’t have any regrets. You can’t take things back.’

Acceptance Speeches

According to a source familiar with the situation, it’s generally considered polite to acknowledge your boss when accepting an award, even though it’s not explicitly stated as a requirement.

The speaker advised being humble, efficient, and thankful, adding with a smile that if you’re going to be bold, make sure it’s clever and sophisticated, so no one could criticize your style. And, of course, always remember to thank your manager.

Winners’ speeches are capped at 45 seconds, which is when play-off music will sound.

Even so, many Oscar winners often go over the allotted time when giving their acceptance speeches, caught up in the thrill of such a significant career moment.

In 2025, Adrien Brody gave the longest acceptance speech on record, exceeding five minutes while accepting the Best Actor award for his performance in The Brutalist, proving that lengthy speeches are sometimes unavoidable.

Last year, he repeatedly said he was finishing up and desperately pleaded for someone to turn off the music.

Seat Fillers 

The Dolby Theatre uses ‘seat fillers’ – people who sit in empty seats during awards shows to make it look like the audience is always full, especially when winners or other guests need to use the restroom or leave temporarily.

Arjun Manjunath, a figure in the media, explained to People magazine that his work comes with its own unique demands.

The basic idea is you shouldn’t initiate conversations with celebrities – let them reach out to you first, and keep interactions natural.

He described his experience at the 2026 Grammys as feeling very dystopian, like something out of ‘The Hunger Games’.

They also must surrender their phone, and are responsible for their own transportation and lodging. 

And there is no monetary compensation for their time at the starry events. 

Winners cannot sell their Oscar gongs 

Although many people assume an Oscar statue would be worth a lot of money, the award itself doesn’t actually provide any financial gain.

The resale value is merely $1 in accordance to AMPAS regulations.

According to the official rules of the Academy Awards, winners are not allowed to sell their Oscar statuettes. If they wish to sell it, they must first offer to sell it back to the Academy for $1.00.

This rule also applies to anyone who receives an Academy Award statue as a gift or inheritance, including the winners’ heirs and future owners.

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2026-03-16 02:06