#1 Entertainment Industry Event
Despite a hugely publicized snafu in which the wrong winner was announced in the best-picture category, the Oscars maintained the top spot. The annual event tops not just the entertainment category, but it’s likely Los Angeles’s most buzzy event across all fields. Each winter, hot-ticket parties around town follow the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ ceremony, and the academy hosts its own Governors Ball. Next: March 4, 2018
#2 Entertainment Industry Event
Nicknamed “music’s biggest night," the Recording Academy’s awards take over the Staples Center in downtown L.A. each year. This year’s event included buzzy tributes to Prince and George Michael, plus performances from Beyoncé and Adele, with James Cordon as host. The Recording Academy’s Branden Chapman and Rex Supa helm a 5,000-person official after-party, known as the Grammy Celebration, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Next year’s 60th annual Grammys could return to New York, a report from The New York Times suggests. Next: February 2018
#3 Entertainment Industry Event
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's 74th annual awards took over the Beverly Hilton this year, with NBC’s Jimmy Fallon as first-time show host. About 1,300 A-list guests fill the hotel’s International Ballroom for the televised dinner ceremony. Simultaneously, viewing parties blanket the hotel—and the property’s population swells even bigger for a throng of after-party guests for hosts such as NBCUniversal (pictured), HBO, InStyle, Fox, and more. As well, the Art of Elysium hosts its buzzy Heaven gala over Globes weekend. Next: January 7, 2018
#4 Entertainment Industry Event
CBS and the Television Academy have announced that Stephen Colbert will host the upcoming 69th annual show for the first time. The event is broadcast live from the Microsoft Theatre, and is the biggest among the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' TV honors. (The Academy also hosts the Creative Arts awards and ball.) The Academy’s Governors Ball for the Primetime Emmys hosts about 4,000 seated guests, and is billed as the largest formal dinner in the country. Next: September 17, 2017
#5 Entertainment Industry Event
The Screen Actors Guild hosted its 23rd annual award show this year at the Shrine Exposition Center. Immediately following, People magazine and the Entertainment Industry Foundation hosted their 21st annual official after-party on a transformed Shrine stage, which this time had a look and feel inspired by moody Parisian streets at night. Next: January 2018
#6 Entertainment Industry Event
Once a standalone award show, BET expanded its award ceremony telecast with a multiday fan fest known as the BET Experience. Over the course of four days leading up to the awards at the Nokia Theatre, the program takes over L.A. Live, with presenting sponsorship from Coca-Cola. The fest is the largest consumer event in the brand’s history. Next: June 22-25, 2017
#7 Entertainment Industry Event
The awards show traditionally takes place over Academy Awards weekend each winter—but the more casual daytime event is a far cry from the formal Oscars. The show has a beachy location, and vibe, in Santa Monica near the pier. This year, actors Nick Kroll and John Mulaney hosted the 32nd edition of the show. Next: February 2018
#8 Entertainment Industry Event
One of the largest film festivals in North America, the festival draws more than 135,000 attendees for a lineup of international features and documentaries. The fest includes the buzzy Film Awards Gala. Overall, it presents 180 films from more than 50 countries, over five venues, on 16 screens, plus daily events in Palm Springs. The Film Society produces the 28-year-old festival. Next: January 2018
#9 Entertainment Industry Event
Actress Diane Keaton will be the recipient of the 45th incarnation of the award, the highest honor in town for a film career. The American Film Institute’s annual honor debuted in 1973. Past recipients have included John Williams, who took home last year’s prize, as well as Steve Martin, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Kelly, Billy Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, and Gregory Peck. Next: June 8, 2017
#10 Entertainment Industry Event
The Environmental Media Association’s award show, honoring people and media for work to raise public awareness of environmental issues, wrapped its 26th annual event in October in its traditional venue of Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank. Actress Nicole Richie hosted, and Jaden Smith and Moby were among the honorees. Following the ceremony is an after-party and auction. Next: Fall 2017
#11 Entertainment Industry Event
Dick Clark Productions produces the Thanksgiving-season awards, billed as the world’s largest fan-voted award show. It features performances from current artists, and presents fan-voted awards in 28 categories. The show is seen around the world. Next: November 2017
#12 Entertainment Industry Event
The festival presented by Audi is unique in a crowded festival field in that tickets are free to the public. The past incarnation, the 30th, included eight days with 188 films from 46 countries. The festival originated in 1971 when it went by the name Filmex. Programming includes screenings and red carpet galas every fall. Next: November 9-16, 2017
#13 Entertainment Industry Event
This year marks the L.A. Film Festival’s 23rd year. It returns once again to ArcLight Cinemas in Culver City, with nine days of screenings, panels, networking, parties, and activities. Film Independent produces the festival. Next: June 14-22, 2017
#14 Entertainment Industry Event
The television festival presented by the Paley Center for Media brings fans together with the talent behind their favorite shows. Held at the Dolby Theatre, more than 200 stars and creative talents in TV share behind-the-scenes scoops, anecdotes, and news. Two weeks of programming includes screenings, panel discussions, and Q&As. Next: March 17-26, 2017
#15 Entertainment Industry Event
Ellen DeGeneres was the big winner at this year’s People’s Choice Awards, becoming the most decorated person in the show’s history. The event took place at the Microsoft Theater. Now in its 43rd year, the People’s Choice Awards is billed as the only major awards show voted on entirely by the public for fan favorites in movies, music, television, and digital. Next: January 2018
#16 Entertainment Industry Event
This year marks the 28th incarnation of the awards, which take place in the springtime in Los Angeles with a corresponding event in New York. Ketel One and Hilton are presenting sponsors. The honors recognize media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of the L.G.B.T. communities and related issues. It’s the biggest event of its kind in the country. Next: April 1, 2017
#17 Entertainment Industry Event
Elle celebrated its 23rd annual Women in Hollywood awards at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills in October. The event honored Amy Adams, Kathy Bates, Felicity Jones, Anna Kendrick, Aja Naomi King, Helen Mirren, Lupita Nyong’o, and Kristen Stewart, with Anthony Anderson as emcee. The event traditionally includes a minimalist look blanketing a hotel ballroom for the intimate, A-list seated dinner crowd. Next: October 16, 2017
#18 Entertainment Industry Event
Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Trevor Noah were among the presenters at the 48th awards, hosted by Anthony Anderson and broadcast live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in February. The awards date back to 1967 and the Civil Rights Movement, and honor achievements and performances of people of color in the arts. Next: February 2018
#19 Entertainment Industry Event
The British Academy's awards fete individuals and companies in the U.S., U.K., and around the world. It’s the group’s highest honor. The most recent iteration in October at the Beverly Hilton hotel honored Jodie Foster, Ricky Gervais, Samuel L. Jackson, Felicity Jones, Ang Lee, and Ewan McGregor, and aired exclusively on Pop. Proceeds from the event support Bafta Los Angeles’s education, scholarship, community outreach, and archival projects. Next: October 2017
#20 Entertainment Industry Event
Women in Film celebrates outstanding women in the entertainment industry each year. Last year, Chris Parnell hosted the ceremony and Max Mara and BMW sponsored. Taraji P. Henson and Cate Blanchett were among the honorees at the Beverly Hilton. The event dates back to 1977. Next: June 13, 2017
#21 Entertainment Industry Event (new to the list)
The fourth annual music celebration just bowed at the Forum, and aired live on TBS, TNT, and truTV, plus iHeartMedia stations. Although a relatively new event, the show is already gathering plenty of buzz: This year, the event’s official hashtag trended on Twitter worldwide, in 32 countries and in 254 cities. Next: March 2018
