Oscars organisers address security preparations amid reports of possible Iran drone threat

Organisers say security coordination is strong after reports of a possible Iran drone threat in California

Preparations for the 2026 Academy Awards are continuing in Hollywood as organisers and security officials respond to reports of a possible drone threat linked to tensions involving Iran.

On Wednesday, host Conan O’Brien and members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled the red carpet outside the Dolby Theatre ahead of the ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 15.

Security arrangements for the event have received increased attention after an alert reported by ABC News indicated that the FBI had warned law enforcement agencies in California about the possibility of a retaliatory drone attack by Iran targeting parts of the US West Coast.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment directly on the reported memo but confirmed that authorities are operating with heightened awareness as the awards ceremony approaches.

In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, the department said it was continuing to function at an “elevated level of readiness and is maintaining increased vigilance.”

During a press conference on Wednesday with the Oscars creative team, executive producer Raj Kapoor addressed questions about safety for guests, attendees and spectators expected to gather around the venue.

“I feel like on this show, we have one of the best teams in the business in all aspects, and that comes down to our security team,” Kapoor told Variety.. “So, of course, every year we monitor what’s going on in the world. We have the support of the FBI and the LAPD, and it’s a close collaboration.”

He added that organisers consider security planning a central responsibility when preparing the annual ceremony.

“This show has to run like clockwork,” he continued. “But we want everybody who is coming to this show, who is witnessing the show, who is even a fan of the show, when they’re standing outside the barricades. We want everybody to feel safe, protected, and welcome. It’s our job as a producing team to make sure that that translates, and that really comes down to us with this very tight relationship, and we have a whole other team of support. It’s something that we don’t take lightly and we take a lot of responsibility for.”

Reports indicate that additional precautions were in place during the red carpet rollout, although the increased security presence was not highly visible to the public.