Hollywood Boulevard is getting less “tourist stroll” and more “secure zone” this week as crews roll out the red carpet and lock down the area ahead of Sunday’s Oscars at the Dolby Theatre. Residents and visitors anywhere near the Walk of Fame should be ready for heavy security, fenced-off staging areas, and sharply limited public access in the heart of the show zone.
Large-scale street and sidewalk closures are already in place to make room for press risers, camera platforms, and pre-show stages. As detailed by Oscars.org, closures stretch across Hollywood Boulevard and nearby side streets through Monday. Local reporting also notes that Metro service will bypass the Hollywood/Highland station and some buses will be rerouted while crews work, according to LAist.
Federal memo put cities on alert
Security planning ratcheted up after a federal intelligence bulletin circulated to California law enforcement warned that Iran had at one point “aspired to conduct a surprise attack” using unmanned aerial vehicles. Officials described the memo as cautionary and unverified, but the alert still triggered tighter coordination among federal, state, and local agencies, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Producers and showrunners say the Oscars telecast team is plugged in with law enforcement and intelligence partners behind the scenes. Oscars showrunner Raj Kapoor summed it up this way: “We have the support of the FBI and the LAPD, and it’s a close collaboration,” TheWrap reports.
The Los Angeles Police Department says it is deploying uniformed officers, surveillance resources, and specialized units near the venue and coordinating with private security. NBC Los Angeles also reported a one-mile security perimeter and roughly 1,000 private security personnel in the area. Officials stress there is currently no specific, credible threat to Los Angeles, but standard planning has been stepped up in light of the broader intelligence bulletin.
What to expect on Sunday
On Oscars Sunday, expect checkpoints, credentialed access only within the fenced perimeter, and a tightly locked-down zone once the telecast begins. The Academy’s closure plans lay out lane and sidewalk shutdowns through Monday and show which blocks around the theater will be off-limits to the general public.
Transit riders should know that Metro’s B Line will skip the Hollywood/Highland station for a window around the ceremony and that many buses will follow detours during the event, according to LAist. If you were hoping to hop off the train and casually wander into the splash zone, this is not that year.
If you work, live, or have plans in Hollywood, officials suggest building in extra travel time and carrying ID. Security checks and credential lines are expected near Johnny Grant Way, Highland Avenue, and adjacent blocks. Residents and visitors are being urged to track local media and LAPD updates; NBC Los Angeles has been posting traffic and safety advisories as the setup continues.
The awards telecast airs Sunday on ABC and will stream on Hulu, but for people moving between nearby businesses and the Dolby Theatre, the short walk will feel much longer inside this year’s security bubble. For times and ceremony details, see the official schedule from Oscars.org.
