Los Angeles has five seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter, and awards season. That last one runs roughly 12 weeks, from mid-January through early March, and it transforms the city in ways that are both spectacular and surprisingly inconvenient for anyone visiting. I’ve spent enough time in LA during this stretch to know that the reality looks nothing like what most tourists picture before they arrive.
If you’re wondering what awards season in Los Angeles is actually like as a visitor, here’s the honest version: you won’t walk the red carpet, you probably won’t get into an after-party, and traffic on Oscar Sunday will make you question every life decision that brought you to Hollywood Boulevard. But you will see things you can’t see any other time of year, and with the right expectations, it’s one of the most electric stretches to be in the city.
This guide breaks down what really happens during awards season in LA, where to go, what to skip, and how to make the most of it without a ticket to anything.
Table of Contents
What Is Awards Season in LA?
Awards season in Los Angeles is the roughly 12-week stretch from mid-January through early March when the film, television, and music industries gather to celebrate the year’s biggest work. It’s anchored by the Golden Globes, the Grammys, the SAG Awards (now called the Actor Awards), and the Academy Awards, with dozens of nominee brunches, press events, and after-parties layered on top.
Each show has a fixed venue. The Golden Globes happen at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The Grammys rotate but have recently called Crypto.com Arena home. The SAG/Actor Awards take over the Shrine Auditorium near USC. And the Oscars, the biggest event of them all, happen at the Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
For visitors, awards season turns the city into an open-air red carpet. Streets close, traffic snarls, paparazzi stake out the same hotels and restaurants as the nominees, and West Hollywood in particular becomes a see-and-be-seen stage whether or not you have a ticket to anything.
The Awards Season Calendar: What Happens When
One thing no competitor article gives you cleanly is a calendar of what happens when. Here’s a rough timeline so you can plan around the shows that matter most to you.
January
The Golden Globes kick things off, usually on the first or second Sunday of the month at the Beverly Hilton. The Critics Choice Awards follow within a week. The vibe is buzzy but still early-season; celebrities are relaxed, parties are plentiful, and the crowds haven’t peaked yet.
February
This is the heart of awards season. The Grammys land in early February at Crypto.com Arena. The SAG/Actor Awards follow at the Shrine Auditorium. The BAFTA Tea Party happens in Beverly Hills. Nominee events, studio parties, and press junkets pile up fast. By mid-February, Hollywood Boulevard starts looking like a construction zone as bleachers and barricades go up around the Dolby Theatre.
March
The Oscars dominate the first or second Sunday of the month. The Independent Spirit Awards happen the day before, usually in Santa Monica. After the Oscars, the Elton John AIDS Foundation after-party and the Vanity Fair Oscar Party are the two big finales. By mid-March, the city exhales and everything returns to normal.
The Red-Carpet Experience: What It’s Actually Like for Fans
Let me be direct: you cannot walk the Oscars red carpet as a fan. It’s completely fenced off, heavily secured, and reserved for nominees, presenters, and credentialed press. What you can do is sit in the bleachers, and that experience is genuinely worth understanding before you commit to it.
How the Bleacher Lottery Works
There are only about 700 bleacher seats total, and they’re allocated through an online lottery run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. You apply months in advance, and if you’re selected, you’re assigned a staggered arrival time. This is not first-come-first-served, so showing up early doesn’t help.
What a Day in the Bleachers Actually Looks Like
If you get a bleacher seat, plan for a 9-plus hour commitment. You’ll arrive at your assigned time, go through security checkpoints, and settle into assigned seating along the red carpet. The Academy provides meals, swag bags, and access to photo booths and lounges. You’ll see every single celebrity walk past you as they enter the Dolby Theatre. A viewing party at the El Capitan Theatre across the street lets you watch the ceremony on screen once the arrivals end.
Forum veterans describe it as “pretty awesome if you haven’t seen it before” but warn that the long hours, hard seats, and exposure to the elements (sun during arrivals, cold once the sun sets) test your patience. Bring a stadium cushion, sunscreen, layers, and snacks even though meals are provided.
What You See Without a Bleacher Seat
Even without a bleacher seat, you can line up along Hollywood Boulevard outside the barricades and catch glimpses of arrivals through gaps in the fencing. You’ll hear crowd roars when big names arrive, and you’ll see the general choreography of the red carpet from a distance. It’s not glamorous, but it’s free and it’s something you can only experience on Oscar Sunday.
Where to Spot Celebrities During Awards Season
The most reliable celebrity sightings during awards season happen at specific venues, not on random sidewalks. Here’s where to focus your time.
West Hollywood Hotspots
West Hollywood is the unofficial headquarters of awards season activity. Sunset Tower Hotel on Sunset Boulevard is where industry people gather for dinner and drinks throughout the season. The West Hollywood EDITION draws a younger, more fashion-forward crowd. Chateau Marmont remains a magnet for celebrities who value its no-photos policy. And the Sunset Strip restaurants, from Delilah to Great White, buzz with pre- and post-party energy.
For daytime sightings, Erewhon on Beverly Boulevard is practically a celebrity waiting room. Stars do their grocery runs here between events, and nobody bats an eye. Community Goods coffee shop and Pam’s Coffy are other low-key spots where you might find yourself in line behind someone you recognize.
Citywide Celebrity Locations
Beyond West Hollywood, the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel is a classic see-and-be-seen breakfast and lunch spot. Nobu Malibu draws A-listers for dinner, especially on weekends. The Grove shopping center has a long history of celebrity sightings, and Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard has been hosting industry dinners since 1919.
For a different kind of sighting, catch a Lakers or Clippers game at Crypto.com Arena or Intuit Dome. Courtside seats are where you’ll spot actors, musicians, and athletes together. Runyon Canyon early in the morning is another local favorite for casual celebrity encounters.
Street Closures, Traffic, and Getting Around
This is the part most visitors don’t plan for, and it catches people off guard every year. Hollywood Boulevard shuts down days before the Oscars. Side streets around the Dolby Theatre become blocked, forcing long detours. Traffic on Oscar Sunday is some of the worst you’ll experience anywhere in LA, and that’s saying something.
If you’re staying in Hollywood, expect to be walking or taking rideshares for most of Oscar weekend. The Hollywood/Highland Metro station (now Ovation Hollywood) is your best friend for getting in and out of the area without sitting in gridlock. If you’re driving, park well outside the closure zone and walk or take transit in.
For the Golden Globes, the area around the Beverly Hilton on Wilshire Boulevard gets congested but doesn’t shut down the way Hollywood does. The Grammys at Crypto.com Arena create localized traffic in downtown LA but are generally easier to navigate.
My advice: treat Oscar Sunday as a walking day. Pick a neighborhood (Hollywood for the Dolby action, West Hollywood for the party scene) and commit to being on foot. Rideshares surge heavily, and parking near the venues is nearly impossible.
Free vs Paid Awards Season Experiences
Not everything during awards season requires a ticket or an invitation. Here’s a clear breakdown of what you can do for free and what costs money.
Free Experiences
Watching the Oscars red-carpet bleachers from outside the barricades on Hollywood Boulevard is completely free. Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremonies happen year-round but are especially festive during awards season, and they’re open to the public at no cost. TCL Chinese Theatre handprint ceremonies are also free and draw decent crowds. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures offers free admission on select days and has awards-season programming. And celebrity spotting at restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping centers costs nothing but your time.
Paid Experiences
Official viewing parties, like those hosted during Emmy season or at venues around the Oscars, require tickets that can range widely in price. Some hotels offer awards-season weekend packages that include access to on-site events. Restaurant reservations at celebrity hotspots during peak awards-season dinners can be difficult to secure without connections or concierge help. And studio tours at Universal Studios Hollywood or Warner Bros. offer a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry year-round.
The Honest Middle Ground
The best free-plus-little-effort experience is positioning yourself at the right venue at the right time. Showing up to Sunset Tower for a cocktail, visiting the Academy Museum during an awards-season exhibit, or grabbing coffee at Erewhon on a Saturday morning gives you the awards-season energy without spending much. You don’t need a ticket to the Dolby Theatre to feel the buzz.
Celebrity Etiquette: What Not to Do as a Visitor
This is a topic most articles skip, but it matters. Awards season brings out the best and worst in visitor behavior, and how you act around celebrities determines whether the experience is fun or awkward.
When It’s OK to Approach
Walk of Fame ceremonies and public fan events are designed for interaction. Celebrities at these events expect to sign autographs, take photos, and engage with fans. That’s the point. If someone is at a public event specifically tied to their work, a polite approach is welcome.
When to Back Off
Restaurants, coffee shops, gyms, and hotel lobbies are off-limits for photo requests in most situations. Many upscale LA venues have explicit no-photography policies, and violating them will get you asked to leave. If a celebrity is dining, walking with their family, or clearly in private mode, leave them alone. A quick nod of recognition is fine; stopping their meal for a selfie is not.
The Paparazzi Line
You’ll see paparazzi stationed outside hotels and restaurants during awards season. Don’t join them. Don’t block sidewalks to get a photo. Don’t shout at celebrities from across the street. The paparazzi already make the experience tense for everyone; adding amateur versions of that behavior makes it worse. Your best bet is to observe from a comfortable distance and let the moment happen naturally.
Where to Stay During Awards Season
Hotels in LA take on a different personality during awards season. The staff retypes acceptance speeches for nominees, oversized late-night room service orders become routine, and complimentary gifts for winners appear in suites. If you want to be near the energy, here’s where to book.
The Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood is the classic awards-season hotel. It’s where the industry gathers for dinner, and its Art Deco rooms have hosted nominees for decades. The West Hollywood EDITION offers a more modern take on the same energy, with a rooftop that draws a fashionable crowd. Chateau Marmont is iconic but more private; its guests value discretion above all else.
For the Oscars specifically, the Hollywood Roosevelt sits directly across from the Dolby Theatre and offers a front-row seat to the action. The Loews Hollywood Hotel is also walking distance. In Beverly Hills, the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Beverly Wilshire, and the Four Seasons Los Angeles all see heavy awards-season traffic. And for the Golden Globes, the Beverly Hilton itself is obviously the place to be, though weekend packages book up fast and can be pricey.
Book early. Awards-season rates climb steadily as show dates approach, and the best rooms go months in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth being in Hollywood during the Oscars?
Yes, if you set the right expectations. You won’t get into the ceremony or walk the red carpet, but you can watch arrivals from the bleachers (if you win the lottery) or from outside the barricades for free. The energy on Hollywood Boulevard on Oscar Sunday is unlike anything else the city offers.
How do I get bleacher seats at the Oscars?
Bleacher seats are allocated through an online lottery run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. There are only about 700 seats total, and you need to apply months in advance. If selected, you’re assigned a staggered arrival time and spend about 9 hours on the red carpet with meals, swag bags, and a viewing party at the El Capitan Theatre included.
Where can I spot celebrities during awards season?
The most reliable spots are Sunset Tower Hotel and Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Erewhon on Beverly Boulevard for casual sightings, and Nobu Malibu for dinner. During show days, the areas around the Dolby Theatre, Beverly Hilton, and Crypto.com Arena are your best bets.
What areas should I avoid during the Oscars?
Avoid driving anywhere near Hollywood Boulevard on Oscar Sunday. Streets around the Dolby Theatre close days in advance, and traffic gridlock extends across Hollywood and into surrounding neighborhoods. Use the Metro or plan to walk if you’re in the area. Rideshares surge heavily and parking is nearly impossible.
What should I wear during awards season in LA?
LA is casual, but awards season skews more dressed up than usual. For daytime venue visits, smart casual works fine. For evening events, restaurant dinners, or hotel bars, lean toward business casual or cocktail attire. If you’re sitting in the bleachers for 9 hours, wear comfortable shoes and bring layers, as temperatures drop after sunset.
When is awards season in Los Angeles?
Awards season in LA runs from mid-January through early March. The Golden Globes kick things off in January, the Grammys and SAG/Actor Awards follow in February, and the Oscars anchor the first or second Sunday of March. The Independent Spirit Awards happen the day before the Oscars.
Final Thoughts
Awards season in LA is one of those experiences that rewards honest expectations. If you come expecting to rub shoulders with A-listers at every turn, you’ll be disappointed. If you come understanding that the best moments happen at specific venues at specific times, and that the real magic is in the atmosphere rather than the access, you’ll have a genuinely memorable trip.
What makes awards season in Los Angeles worth visiting as a visitor is the city itself. West Hollywood buzzes with industry energy. The hotels feel like movie sets. The restaurants fill with people who are celebrating something. And for one 12-week stretch every year, the entire entertainment world focuses on one city, and you can feel that focus everywhere you go.
Time your trip around a show you care about, pick the right neighborhood to stay in, pack comfortable shoes, and accept that most of the experience happens from the outside looking in. That’s not a disappointment. That’s just what it’s actually like.