Conan O'Brien Confirmed to Host 2026 Oscars Following Successful Debut
The 98th Academy Awards will air live on March 15, 2026, with O’Brien returning alongside the same production team that delivered a five-year ratings high this year.
- Conan O'Brien will host the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, marking his second consecutive year as Oscars host.
- O'Brien earned acclaim for his 2025 hosting debut, which featured humor, warmth, and a focus on keeping the ceremony engaging and efficient.
- The 97th Oscars saw a five-year viewership high with 19.69 million viewers, despite technical glitches during its simultaneous Hulu streaming debut.
- The Academy has confirmed the return of executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, as well as producers Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney, for the 2026 ceremony.
- O'Brien humorously cited wanting to let Adrien Brody finish his record-breaking acceptance speech as his reason for returning as host.
Entertainment Weekly 
