Conan O’Brien is heading back to The Oscars. The fan-favorite comedian has been confirmed to host the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, which will be held on March 15, 2026.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday that O’Brien would return to host the 2026 Oscars. In a statement about his return, the former late-night talk show took aim at this year’s Best Actor winner Adrien Brody, whose speech ended up being the longest in Oscars’ history, clocking in at five minutes and 40 seconds. “The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech,” O’Brien joked. Also returning for next year’s Oscars are executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan and producers Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney.
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“We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 98th Oscars,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and outcoming president Janet Yang said in a statement. “This year, they produced a hugely entertaining and visually stunning show that celebrated our nominees and the global film community in the most beautiful and impactful way. Conan was the perfect host — skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence. It is an honor to be working with them again.”
The Oscars’ Ratings Increased in 2025
Nielsen initially reported (via Variety) that 18.1 million tuned into the ABC telecast of the 97th Academy Awards, which would have been a 7 percent decrease from the 2024 ceremony, which was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. However, after Nielsen’s finalized reporting, which factored in viewers tuning in via mobile devices and personal computers, the number rose to 19.7 million viewers, marking a 1 percent increase from the year before and a new five-year high for the ceremony.
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O’Brien received largely positive reviews from critics about how he did as host of the 2025 Oscars ceremony. The comedian’s opening monologue was specifically praised for featuring comical moments like the Dune sandworm playing chopsticks on a grand piano and Deadpool pirouetting around the stage “for no good reason.” O’Brien’s opening monologue also featured a few jokes directed to Emilia Perez star Karla Sofía Gascón, including one specifically about her past, controversial tweets. “Karla, if you are going to tweet about the Oscars tonight, my name is Jimmy Kimmel,” the host ribbed.
O’Brien’s return as host comes less than a week after it was announced that comedian Nikki Glaser would return as host of the 2026 Golden Globes. “Hosting the Golden Globes this year was without a doubt the most fun I have ever had in my career,” said Glaser. “I can’t wait to do it again, and this time in front of the team from The White Lotus who will finally recognize my talent and cast me in Season Four as a Scandinavian Pilates instructor with a shadowy past.” Glaser has reportedly signed a three-year deal to host the Globes.
Conan O’Brien’s opening monologue at the 97th Oscars.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
The Oscars
- Release Date
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March 19, 1953
- Directors
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Glenn Weiss, Alan Handley, George Seaton, Hamish Hamilton, Roger Goodman, Max Miller, Trevor Newman
- Writers
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Buz Kohan, Dave Boone, David Steinberg, Ed Driscoll, Hal Kanter, Jeff Cesario, Marc Shaiman, Jon Macks, Carol Leifer, Bruce Vilanch, Robert Wuhl, Dan Harmon, Phil Alden Robinson, Billy Crystal, Amberia Allen, John Hoffman, Mason Steinberg, Colleen Werthmann, Joelle Boucai, Greg Martin, Agathe Panaretos, Blaire Erskine, Louis Virtel, Jordan Rubin
