Opened in 2001 as the Kodak Theatre and renamed the Dolby Theatre in 2012, this venue has its primary claim to fame as the home of the Academy Awards since 2002, with the exception of 2021, when the ceremony was held at Union Station due to public health restrictions. The theater was designed as a “tool” for a global show: David Rockwell created a space that’s as spectacular in person as it appears on television, featuring a 3,332-seat auditorium and one of the largest stages in the country. As you enter, you immediately notice the “red carpet experience”: a multi-level lobby with a grand staircase that, on Oscar nights, transforms into a living postcard complete with drapes, lighting, cameras, and fans. Look closely at the columns and walls—you’ll see the names of Best Picture winners engraved, with spaces left for future films, as if Hollywood has already planned ahead for decades. Technology here is as important as the décor. The sound system, powered by Dolby Atmos, delivers voices and music from all directions, immersing the audience completely. Because the ceremony is broadcast live worldwide, the theater is equipped with technical corridors and underground cables linking directly to TV trucks outside. Every detail is designed to turn this space into a massive television studio for the Oscars.