Are you dreaming of being at the Oscars? Keep dreaming!

The Academy Awards is the ultimate Hollywood event, a celebration filled with sparkle and glamour, and it’s a well-known fact that even the most prominent celebrities sometimes end up without an invitation. This year, the prestigious ceremony will be hosted by Conan O’Brien on March 2.

It’s also typical for nominated stars to engage in a celebrity-style version of begging to obtain more than the usual two tickets, hoping to bring along their family and friends to witness their potential moment of Oscar fame.

This situation leaves the rest of us, the everyday movie fans, in a tight spot regarding attending the grand night of awards season, with opportunities ranging from highly unlikely to nearly impossible.

Two experts on the Oscars shared their thoughts on who gets to dress up for the event: Michael Schulman, a writer for the New Yorker and author of “Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears,” and Dave Karger, TCM host and author of “50 Oscar Nights: Iconic Stars & Filmmakers on Their Career-Defining Wins.”

Where will the 2025 Academy Awards be held?

For the last two decades, the Oscars have taken place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Previously, the venues varied from smaller hotel ballrooms to nightclubs.

The prime orchestra-level seats will be occupied by A-list celebrities, mainly because the winners need easy access to the stage right away. However, those sitting in the balconies are not left wanting either. “Each level has its own bar and popcorn station, and there’s plenty of mingling,” Schulman notes.

Who is allowed to attend the 2025 Academy Awards?

The Dolby Theatre can accommodate 3,300 people, with around “half of them connected in some capacity to nominees or presenters, and the other half being members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,” of which there are over 10,000, according to Schulman.

Also in attendance will be media representatives (YSL News gets tickets for coverage) as well as the essential seat fillers, who help occupy seats when stars go up to accept their Oscars. These positions are typically filled by individuals with Academy ties.

Can I attend the 2025 Academy Awards?

Unless you have an invite from someone with tickets or connections to the film industry, it’s very unlikely you’ll attend.

“One option is to enter a lottery to win access to the bleachers on the red carpet,” Karger mentions, referring to ticket giveaways organized by the Academy, local television stations, and brands linked to the industry. “However, those winners won’t enter the theater.”

Do stars receive a lot of tickets for the 2025 Academy Awards?

A nominee or presenter is allotted two tickets. Studios can receive additional tickets if their film is nominated for best picture.

Last year, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, co-star and supporting actress nominee of “The Holdovers,” made headlines seeking extra tickets. In 2022, Rachel Zegler, a star from “West Side Story,” was initially denied a ticket but ultimately attended after being asked to present. In 2018, Karger recalls giving his tickets to Allison Janney, who brought friends to witness her win for best supporting actress for “I, Tonya.”

Have the Oscars ever included regular people?

When the Oscars first occurred in 1929, the event was so small that only movie stars with a chance of winning could attend, as Schulman explains. However, in 1936, due to a boycott by the Screen Actors Guild and subsequent cancellations, tickets were given to “secretaries” from the studios.

A brief moment of inclusivity happened in 1944, when the Oscars honored the military during World War II by inviting “some members of the public and service personnel to the event, to avoid looking detached,” he explains.

What’s the allure of attending the Oscars in person?

Given that the ceremony usually lasts over three hours, including commercials, spending the entire night in the theater can be quite a marathon if you’re lucky enough to score a ticket, Schulman notes. But the experience can be rewarding, especially if something unexpected occurs.

“I was present when the infamous slap happened (when Will Smith struck presenter Chris Rock), and the energy in the theater became electric instantly,” he shares. However, Schulman adds, “once the show ends, everything gets packed away, revealing how it’s all just a facade, typical of Hollywood.”

Is there anything more challenging to get into than the 2025 Oscars?

Schulman is quick to respond. “While getting into the Oscars is tough, gaining entry to the Vanity Fair party following the Oscars is significantly more challenging,” he states, drawing from his experience writing for the magazine.

“You basically need to walk in after the ceremony holding an Oscar,” he jokes. “Otherwise, it’s, ‘Better luck next time.’ ”