Academy announces next year's Oscar calendar

Remember all that speculation over whether the Oscars would move to January? Well, it’s not happening just yet. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released the key dates for next year’s Oscar season, and they’re basically the same as this year’s. Nominations will be announced on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, while the awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, February 26, preceded by a 90-minute red carpet pre-show on ABC.

Although the Academy Awards remain by far the most prestigious movie-industry prize, it’s become more difficult for the Oscar telecast to contain any big surprises: All six major Oscar winners (The King’s Speech, Tom Hooper, Colin Firth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, and Melissa Leo) had already won their respective guild prizes by the time the Academy Awards came around. Even if the Academy were to adopt online voting and move its date a few weeks earlier, say, to the beginning of February, all the other award shows would certainly adjust their schedules as well, leaving the Oscars at the end of the season as usual. But a quicker overall awards season could help alleviate some of the fatigue many people are feeling by the end of February.

The entire calendar is after the jump.

Dec. 1, 2011: Official screen credits due

Dec. 27, 2011: Nominations ballots mailed

Jan. 13, 2012: Nominations polls close

Jan. 24, 2012: Nominations announced

Feb. 1, 2012: Final ballots mailed

Feb. 6, 2012: Nominees luncheon

Feb. 11, 2012: Scientific and Technical Awards

Feb. 21, 2012: Final polls close

Feb. 26, 2012: 84th Academy Awards presentation