Full Breakdown
Academy Expands Board of Governors for 2026-27 Term
6/16/2026, 1:11:27 AM
New Board Unveiled: Membership and Structure
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday the composition of its Board of Governors for the 2026-27 term. The election expands the board to 57 elected members, with three governors elected from each of the Academy’s 19 branches, plus three at-large members appointed by the Academy president. The newly elected governors will assume their roles at the first scheduled board meeting of the term.
Bylaw Amendments Ensure Branch-Level Equity
In February 2026 the board approved a bylaws amendment that guarantees equal representation among branches. As a result, the Animation, Production and Technology, and Short Films branches now each have three elected governors, matching the representation of all other branches. To create staggered terms, governors in these three branches were elected to one-, two-, or three-year terms; elections in 2027 will revert to the standard three-year cycle for a single governor per branch.
First-Time Governors: Notable Appointees
Nine professionals join the board for the first time. Director Guillermo del Toro, a three-time Oscar winner, represents the Directors branch. Composer Kris Bowers joins from the Music branch, and producer Fred Berger from the Producers branch. Other newcomers include cinematographer Michael Goi (Cinematographers), film editor Anne Goursaud (Film Editors), makeup artist and hairstylist Patricia Dehaney (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists), Vic Armstrong and David Leitch (both in the newly expanded Production and Technology branch), and Kim Magnusson (Short Films). Leitch is noted for his role in advancing the Academy’s new Stunts category slated for 2028.
Board Demographics and Gender Balance
The 2026-27 board will consist of 27 women and 30 men, reversing the previous year’s ratio of 30 women to 25 men. With three elected governors per branch, the board now reflects a uniform branch representation across all 19 branches, totaling 57 elected seats plus the three at-large appointments.
Official Statements & Responses
Academy President Lynette Howell-Taylor, whose term as a representative of the Producers branch has ended, will remain in office under a recent amendment that permits the president to serve up to four one-year terms as an ex officio governor. The same amendment maintains the existing term-limit policy for governors: two consecutive three-year terms, a mandatory two-year hiatus, and the possibility of two additional terms for a lifetime maximum of 12 years on the board.
What’s Next
The newly expanded board will convene for its inaugural meeting later this year, after which it will oversee the implementation of the Stunts category in 2028 and manage the staggered-term elections scheduled for 2027. Ongoing monitoring of branch representation and gender balance will shape future bylaws and board composition.
