Conan O’Brien will return to host the Oscars in 2026, taking the reins for the 98th Academy Awards scheduled for March 15. The announcement was made by the film academy’s leadership on Monday.
In a statement, O’Brien humorously said, “The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech.”
This year marked O’Brien’s first time hosting the Oscars, which drew its largest broadcast audience in five years. Despite the relatively small-scale winner, “Anora,” the 97th Academy Awards attracted an estimated 19.7 million viewers, according to ABC. There was a noticeable increase in viewership among people aged 18 to 49, thanks to younger viewers watching via mobile and laptops. It was also the most-watched prime-time entertainment show of 2025.
Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, praised Conan O’Brien’s comedic style, saying, “Conan’s unique comedic style perfectly captured the moment, and I’m excited to have his talents back onstage next year to helm another unforgettable performance.”
Next year, Conan O’Brien will be joined by a familiar team, with Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan returning as executive producers, and Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney serving as producers. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang expressed in a joint statement that they are honored to work again with the team behind this year’s successful broadcast.
Kramer and Yang shared, “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.”
The show also performed well on social media, surpassing both the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl in engagement, according to Oscars organizers. This was the first year the ceremony was streamed live on Hulu, though the broadcast experienced some technical glitches.
The announcement of next year’s host and producing team comes unusually early — less than a month after this year’s Oscars — which is not typical for the film academy and ABC.