Academy Awards to go without a host for third year: hoping to attract 'high profile' presenters

Plus, the public can virtually attend Elton John's pre-Oscars party

The Oscars are to go host-free for the third consecutive year. Getty Images 

The Academy Awards are to go host-free for the third consecutive year. Much like the 2019 and 2020 ceremonies, the awards show will forego one host for a series of A-list presenters, who will hand out the Oscars on the night.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hopes to attract a number of "high-profile presenters" to the 93rd Academy Awards on April 25, according to Deadline.

Names are yet to be announced, however in 2020, the likes of Mahershala Ali, Timothee Chalamet, Olivia Colman, Gal Gadot, Rami Malek, Sandra Oh, Chris Rock and Taika Waititi all presented awards, to name a few.

Traditionally, the winners of key awards – Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress – return to the ceremony the following year to present trophies to those of the opposite sex.

So based on 2020's winners, it's likely that we'll see Joaquin Phoenix, Renee Zellweger, Brad Pitt and Laura Dern on the presenting podium.

Where are the 2021 Oscars being held? 

Since 2002, the Academy Awards have been hosted at the Dolby Theatre, formerly known as the Kodak Theatre, in the Hollywood & Highland Centre shopping mall.

However, with social distancing measures in place, this venue would prove too intimate under current restrictions, so the 2021 ceremony is moving to Union Station, a downtown Los Angeles railway terminal that is spacious enough to accommodate nominees and their families.

However, it is expected that the Dolby Theatre will still be used for performances on the night.

Virtual Oscars parties 

It is not just the Academy Awards ceremony that people look forward to each year, there are also a number of viewing and after-parties for celebrities to get dressed up for and fans to enjoy photos from.

One of the most popular parties is Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Award party, attracting Hollywood's finest every year. In 2021, it will be held as an Academy Awards pre-party.

The event will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, with Dua Lipa performing. In a special twist, the virtual event will be open to the public, with up to 400,000 guests able to attend with pre-bought tickets worth $19.99 each. Proceeds will benefit John's foundation.

The one-hour event will be streamed at four different times to accommodate time zones in the US, UK and Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. It will be broadcast on Sunday, April 25 at 7pm ET for North America, on Monday, April 26 at 7pm GMT for the UK and Europe, and on Monday, April 26 at 7pm AEST for Australia and New Zealand. It will also be repeated on April 26 at 10pm ET. Each livestream will be able to host up to 100,000 guests.

The closest time zone to the UAE's GST is the GMT stream, which means the event will run at 11pm on Sunday, April 26 for viewers here.

“This year, we are bringing our Oscar Party into people’s homes for the first time virtually for an unforgettable evening with David [Furnish], myself, our dear friend Neil Patrick Harris and the incredible Dua Lipa, plus many fabulous surprise names,” said John.

"Now more than ever, we need to ensure that one pandemic does not override another, and we cannot forget the 38 million people living with HIV globally who need our care, love and support so we hope everyone joins us for this special one-of-a-kind Oscar pre-party."

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster 

See photos of the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Award Party: