Independent Spirit Awards Plans Move Away From Longtime Santa Monica Beach Home

SANTA MONICA, CA — The Film Independent Spirit Awards ceremony will move from its iconic Santa Monica Beach location to the Hollywood Palladium next year, organizers announced Friday.

The Independent Spirit Awards have been held under a big tent every year since 1993 (aside from its ninth edition in 1994, which was also held at the Palladium), according to the Hollywood Reporter. Next year's ceremony will be held at the Hollywood theater "as Santa Monica, the longtime home of Spirit Awards, undergoes some exciting renovations," organizers said in a statement.

The move is related to the region's preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics; it's unclear if the venue change is temporary, according to THR.

"Following the celebration of 40 years of the Spirit Awards earlier this year, we are excited to have the opportunity to reimagine the Spirit Awards experience during a moment of tremendous growth and transformation for our organization," Brenda Robinson, Film Independent acting president, said in a statement. "We are proud to continue to be a beacon for the bold and resilient independent storytelling community and to honor excellence in storytelling in all its forms."

The 2026 Spirit Awards, which honor independent films, will be held on Feb. 15 in Santa Monica.