The Oscars Governors Ball 2026: its history, Wolfgang Puck's menu and how the official party works after ceremony

When the Oscars ceremony comes to an end and the last golden statuette is handed out, for Hollywood stars the evening has just begun. The Governors Ball has represented for decades the highlight of the most important night in movies.

The Governors Ball was born in 1957 as the official reception of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The idea was simple but revolutionary for the time: to create a space where winners, nominees and members of the movie industry could celebrate together, away from the ceremony's spotlights. What began as a modest banquet evolved over the decades to become the most coveted and prestigious party on the Hollywood calendar.

The first edition was held in a rather sober form, but already in the Sixties the Governors Ball had acquired that patina of glamour that still distinguishes it today.

The organization of the Governors Ball

The location is the Ray Dolby Ballroom of the Ovation Hollywood complex, a space that is completely transformed for the occasion. Preparations begin months before the ceremony, with a team of chefs, designers and coordinators working to create an event curated down to the smallest details.

The menu represents a central element of the evening. Wolfgang Puck, the Austrian-born naturalized American chef, has become synonymous with the Governors Ball: since 1995 he has personally curated the banquet, proposing a fusion between haute cuisine and culinary creativity. His signature dishes – from smoked salmon with caviar to gourmet mini pizzas – have become iconic.

How the evening unfolds

Guests at the Governors Ball number around 1,500, a select number that includes winners, nominees, presenters and members of the Academy's Board of Governors. Access is strictly controlled: no crashers, no exceptions.

The party begins immediately after the conclusion of the ceremony. Winners arrive with their statuettes still shiny, and one of the most photographed corners of the evening is precisely the one where the Oscars are engraved with the winner's name.

The atmosphere of the Governors Ball oscillates between formal and relaxed. On one side there are elegantly set tables, elaborate floral arrangements, liveried waiters; on the other, the joy of those who have just won an Oscar and want to share that moment with colleagues and friends. Music accompanies the entire party, with live performances ranging from jazz to pop.

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The Oscars Governors Ball 2026: its history, Wolfgang Puck's menu and how the official party works after ceremony