Conan O’Brien Returns as Host for 98th Academy Awards in 2026

Conan O’Brien will return to host the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, the film academy announced Monday. “The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech,” O’Brien quipped in a statement.

This year marked O’Brien’s first time leading the Oscars, which attracted 19.7 million viewers—its highest broadcast audience in five years—despite the winning film, Anora, being a smaller production. The ceremony also became the most-watched prime-time entertainment show of 2025, with a surge in viewership among the 18-49 demographic, driven by mobile and laptop streams.

“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,” said Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang also praised O’Brien’s performance, calling him “the perfect host” who guided the night with “humour, warmth, and reverence.”

O’Brien will once again work with executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, as well as producers Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney, who were behind this year’s broadcast. Kramer and Yang expressed their excitement to collaborate again, noting that the team produced a “hugely entertaining and visually stunning show.”

This year’s Oscars also dominated social media, outperforming the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl, according to organizers. The event was streamed live on Hulu for the first time, though not without technical glitches. The announcement of O’Brien’s return comes unusually early for the academy and ABC, underscoring confidence in his ability to deliver another successful show.

Source: Swifteradio.com