Ridley Scott Will Miss His Honorary Oscar Ceremony, but His Speech Will Play

Ridley Scott will not be in the room when the Academy presents him with an honorary Oscar. The director will skip the Academy's 17th Governors Awards in Hollywood on November 15, 2026, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

The reason is health. Scott had a minor medical procedure last week and has been advised not to fly while he heals. He is based in London, so the trip to Los Angeles is off the table for now.

He will still have a voice on the night. Scott recorded his acceptance speech last week, and it will be played during the ceremony. His wife, children and grandchildren will travel to Los Angeles to attend the celebration in his place.

An honorary Oscar is a statue the Academy gives outside its usual competition, to recognise lifetime achievement. The Academy says the award honours "extraordinary distinction" over a whole career. Scott, who turns 89 on November 30, is one of several people being honoured this year.

Glenn Close also receives an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards. So does Floyd Norman, an animator whose career stretches back decades. Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler will receive the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, which the Academy gives to producers for a body of work. The Academy announced the honourees in June 2026.

Jennifer Todd is producing the ceremony. The Academy confirmed her role in a June 2026 announcement, months before the night itself.

The Governors Awards are a different event from the main Oscars telecast. They are held in a smaller, more informal setting, and the honorary statues are handed out there rather than on the stage of the big show. For the people in the room, that makes the speeches and the pre-recorded moments part of the evening's emotional centre.

For fans of Scott's films, the change is simple. The man is not in the room, but his words are. A recorded speech is a common way to handle an absence like this, and the Academy has room in the schedule for it.