From the Oscars to the Brits: All the rescheduled award shows in 2021

The showbiz circuit will be feeling the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic well into next year
Triumph: Michaela Coel with her Bafta trophy
Dave Benett
Kimberley Bond30 June 2020

After nearly four months in lockdown, the UK is slowly moving towards a new, socially-distanced version of normal life.

But while we take our first steps back to civilisation with trips to pubs, restaurants and salons, the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic will still be felt for months, perhaps even years, to come.

While certain areas of the entertainment industry are getting back on their feet, others face a longer wait and as well as festivals, premieres and parties, a number of the industry’s glitzy award shows have been delayed.

While January usually marks the beginning of the hectic awards season, it looks as if it’ll be a distinctly quiet month, with prestigious ceremonies taking place later in the year instead.

Here are all the awards ceremonies which will take place later that initially planned…

Golden Globes – delayed until Sunday, February 28th 2021

ES Best Dressed at the Golden Globes

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The Golden Globes usually kick off the awards season by taking place on the first Sunday of the calendar year.

But the industry-wide delays have seen the glitzy bash, which celebrates the best in both film and television, shunted to February, 28 – which, coincidentally, was intended to be the Academy Awards’ original sate.

"We are excited to announce the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards, hosted by the dynamic Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, will take place on Sunday, February 28, 2021," said the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) in a statement.

"To accommodate both domestic and international film and television productions, the HFPA will provide further guidance around eligibility, voting period, and revised nominations announcement timing in the coming weeks," the statement added.

Critics’ Choice – delayed until Sunday, 7th March 2021

Anne Hathaway sparkled at this year's Critcs' Choice 
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Usually taking place in January, the Critics’ Choice Awards has been bumped twice until the 7th March became the latest date.

“Now more than ever, people are turning to film and television as a source of comfort, as a means of education, and as a way to connect,” Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin said. “With the revised timeline, we are looking forward to celebrating all of the brilliant new work created during this extended season.”

Bafta Film Awards – delayed until Sunday, 11th April 2021

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The film branch of the Bafta Awards has been bumped from its initial Valentine’s Day slot to mid-April.

In similar vein, the change of date has also seen a change in eligibility criteria, with the awards board reportedly in discussions around allowing films released digitally, rather than in cinemas, to be eligible for the 2021 awards.

“This change from the previously announced date of Feb. 14 acknowledges the impact of the global pandemic and accommodates an extended eligibility period,” a Bafta spokesperson explained.

The board also shared that plans are underway to strike a universal set of requirements that can apply to both the Oscars and BAFTA Film Awards in order to boost diversity.

National Television Awards – delayed until Tuesday 20th April 2021

PA

Usually taking place towards the tailend of January, the audience-selected NTAs have been moved to mid-April.

A statement online read: "If you have already reserved tickets your seats will be honoured for the rescheduled date and you will be contacted shortly by Ticketmaster or AXS who can help with any queries."

Oscars – delayed until Sunday 25th April 2021

Academy Awards 2020: Oscars behind-the-scenes

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The show must go on for the 93rd Academy Awards - just a bit later than billed.

Instead of going ahead on Sunday, February 28, the ceremony has been pushed back by two months in order to allow more films to reach eligibility criteria.

“For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times,” Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a statement.

“They certainly have this year. Our hope, in extending the eligibility period and our Awards date, is to provide the flexibility filmmakers need to finish and release their films without being penalized for something beyond anyone’s control.

The ceremony will take place months later than originally hoped
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“This coming Oscars and the opening of our new museum will mark an historic moment, gathering movie fans around the world to unite through cinema.”

The delay may come as a surprise to some, who may have anticipated the awards being shelved entirely a number of blockbusters delayed release when lockdown rules were announced.

Now, cinemas are slowly starting to open which means there’s still hope for Christopher Nolan to finally scoop an Oscar for his upcoming time-twisting flick, Tenet.

Brit Awards – delayed until Tuesday 11th May 2021

Dave caused a storm at the 2020 Brit Awards
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While the vast majority of music releases have gone ahead as usual with very little disruption due to coronavirus, the rock and roll awards ceremony has been bumped from its early February schedule for a later May date – which again has lead to changes in eligibility.

Geoff Taylor, chief executive of the Brit Awards and industry body BPI, said: “We want to make sure that The Brits delivers the outstanding production levels, superstar performances and live excitement that make it the biggest night in music.

“We believe that the best way to achieve this in 2021 is to move the show back a few months to May and we are already at work planning a spectacular event that will remind us how important music has been in getting us all through these difficult times.

“I would like to thank our labels, ITV, AEG and Mastercard and all our partners for their fantastic support.”

By far one of the more raucous award ceremonies, the Brits just wouldn’t be the Brits without its live performances, dazzling after-parties and infamous indiscretions. Here’s hoping a longer wait doesn’t lead to a more muted ceremony.