Conan O’Brien Will Return to the Oscars Next Year

Have the Academy Awards actually become cool again? American host and comedian Conan O’Brien will return to the Oscars stage as host for a second time. Will he make it from the 97 Academy Awards all the way to 100?

In a statement posted by the Academy on March 17, President Janet Yang and CEO Bill Kramer had nothing but praise for O’Brien’s hosting abilities. “Conan was the perfect host – skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth, and reverence. It is an honor to be working with them again.”

Also returning for the 98 Academy Awards are the Emmy Award-winning executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, who will return for their third consecutive year of working the ceremony.

Kapoor and Mullan were also equally enthusiastic about their return in that aforementioned Academy statement. “We can’t wait to work with Conan and his entire term as we continue to explore even more special and heartfelt opportunities to celebrate next year’s nominees and the impact of film around the world.”

“The Only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to see Adrien Brody finish his speech,” O’Brien joked.

After winning the Oscar for Best Leading Actor in a Motion Picture for The Brutalist, Adrien Brody continued his acceptance speech despite the orchestra’s attempts to play him off. It was the longest acceptance speech in Oscar history.

Conan is so charming because he really will just rattle off "the thigh bone of St. Peter" during a little joke. A perfect little geek. https://t.co/dnf9ugAYLr

— Jordan Crucchiola (@JorCru) March 13, 2025

O’Brien’s Oscar Success So Far

The 97 Academy Awards were held earlier this month and pulled in the highest volume of viewership for the award show in years. Bringing in a whopping 19.69 million total viewers and a 4.54 rating of adults between 18 and 49, the highest for the Oscars in the last five years

The broadcast earned 104.2 million in online engagement interactions across multiple platforms. For reference, this year’s Grammy Awards earned 102.2 million interactions, and the Super Bowl garnered 62.4 million interactions.

Not only was the 2025 Oscars the number one primetime entertainment telecast in total viewership, but it also outperformed both the Grammy Awards and Super Bowl, a record first.

The secret is that Conan is actually a naturally funny guy who can also write entertaining stuff himself. That natural penchant for identifying good humor also allows him to tweak not-so-funny material and make it hit better. Many of the other hosts? Not so much. pic.twitter.com/x7C8Jx5W24

— Kirby's Last Snack (@KirbysLastSnack) March 3, 2025

So soon after the end of the latest award season, there is no telling what films will be battling it out at next year’s Oscars or what next year will bring. However, plenty of films are already considered potential contenders, such as Wicked: For Good, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and Hamnet, by Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao.

The 98 Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Once again, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.