Conan O’Brien to return as host of the Oscars in 2026

Conan O’Brien has been announced as the host of the 98th Academy Awards in March 2026, marking his return to the Oscars stage after a successful hosting debut this year. O’Brien expressed his excitement to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech at next year’s ceremony. The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by O’Brien, saw a significant increase in viewership, attracting 19.7 million viewers and becoming the most-watched prime-time entertainment show of 2025. Disney Television Group president, Craig Erwich, praised O’Brien’s comedic style and announced his return as the host for the upcoming Oscars. The executive producers and producers from this year’s show, including Raj Kapoor, Katy Mullan, Jeff Ross, and Mike Sweeney, will also return for the 98th Academy Awards. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang commended the team behind this year’s successful broadcast and expressed their excitement to work with them again. The 97th Oscars also performed well in social media metrics, surpassing the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl. The announcement of next year’s hosting and producing team came earlier than usual, less than a month after this year’s Oscars, indicating a strong commitment from the film academy and ABC to deliver another engaging and visually stunning show.

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