The Sept 19 ceremony in Los Angeles was initially due to take place indoors before a limited celebrity audience. It will now be held at the Event Deck of LA Live, an outdoor space that includes a large tented area.

The academy said the changes followed discussions with Los Angeles county health and safety experts, and there would be further limits on the numbers of those invited to the show, including those nominated for the highest honours in television.

“Unfortunately, this means not all nominees will be able to attend this year’s awards,” the organisers said.

Los Angeles last month reimposed the wearing of masks in all indoor public settings and businesses because of rising numbers of coronavirus infections in the second-largest city in the United States.

Last year’s Emmy Awards took place in an empty studio with nominees from around the world joining on video screens from their homes and gardens.