Conan O’Brien is set to take the stage for the Oscars once again in 2026, as he has been chosen to host the 98th Academy Awards, which are scheduled for March 15. This announcement came from the film academy’s leadership on Monday. The late-night host humorously remarked, “The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech,” displaying his trademark wit.
O’Brien made his debut as the Oscars host this year, and the ceremony garnered impressive ratings, hitting its peak viewership in five years despite the winning film, “Anora,” being an unexpected contender. According to broadcaster ABC, nearly 19.7 million viewers tuned into the 97th Academy Awards, with a noticeable increase among individuals between 18 to 49 years old, particularly enhanced by mobile and laptop viewership from younger audiences. It became the most viewed prime-time entertainment show of 2025.
Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, expressed his enthusiasm about O’Brien’s return, stating, “Conan’s unique comedic style perfectly captured the moment, and I’m excited to have his talents back onstage next year to helm another indelible performance.”
In 2026, O’Brien will be joined by a familiar crew as Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will come back as executive producers, and Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will serve as producers. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang conveyed their delight to collaborate again with the team that crafted this year’s successful broadcast, emphasizing, “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.”
Social media metrics for the show were also a success, as it managed to surpass both the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl, per Oscars organizers. Significantly, 2025 marked the first year that the Oscars were live-streamed concurrently on Hulu, although the platform faced some technical issues.
Remarkably, the announcement of the host and producers for next year’s Oscars came sooner than usual, merely a month after this year’s ceremony, which is atypical for both the film academy and ABC.
