Security in and around the 98th Oscars this weekend is at a maximum as the FBI put out an alert warning of potential Iranian drone attacks in California.
“We recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United State Homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California, in the event that the US conducted strikes against Iran,” reads the alert sent out a few days ago by the FBI to SoCal police and other law enforcement agencies.
“We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack.”
With the red carpet rolled out today and the tent in place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Oscars organizers declined comment on the FBI alert this afternoon.
Yet, sources directly involved with Sunday’s event tell Deadline “there’s what we usually do, and now we’ve cranked it up to 11” when it comes to security for nominees and attendees this year. “There is a lot in place and a lot you’ll never see,” another well-positioned individual said of the security apparatus and multi-street perimeter around the Conan O’Brien-hosted event.
Already fairly impregnable, the Oscars for years has been protected in public view and behind the scenes by a series of federal, regional and local law enforcement groups and departments working in coordination under the auspices of the LAPD.
It is near impossible to “lock down” the skies above the Ovation Hollywood-held shindig, one law enforcement official told Deadline today after news of the FBI drone alert began to leak out. With that, the source added that “as much as you can have this, we got this.”
“Nothing is getting in and no one should be afraid,” he added. “Security is tight and ready for anything.”
“I am in constant coordination with security and intelligence officials, including at the California Office of Emergency Services, to monitor potential threats to California — including those tied to the conflict in the Middle East,” Gov. Gavin Newsom stated today. “While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state.”
“As always, the Mayor’s Office and LAPD are coordinating closely with state and federal partners to keep Angelenos safe,” a spokesperson for LA Mayor Karen Bass said Wednesday of the FBI alert. “At this time, there is no specific or credible threat to Los Angeles.”
Contacted by Deadline, the LAPD had no comment so far on the drone alert and its implications for the Oscars. Additionally, two weeks into the Trump administration and Israel’s massive air and missile campaign against the Islamic Republic, the FBI had nothing to say specifically on the geopolitical warning it put out.
However, the bureau made no secret of its ongoing role in the fortified ceremony.
“We have agents working in close conjunction with the LAPD on Oscar security,” FBI LA Bureau’s Laura Eimiller told Deadline. “That is routine for high-profile events such as the Academy Awards.”
The 2026 Oscars are on March 15 at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT, airing live on ABC and streaming live on Hulu.
ABC News was first to report on the FBI alert.
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