Conan O’Brien to Return as Oscars Host in 2026

ABC is sticking with a winning combination for the 2026 Academy Awards, with Conan O’Brien returning as host alongside producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan and producers Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney.

It’s the second in a row for O’Brien, Ross and Sweeney, and third in a row for Kapoor and Mullan. The 98th Oscars ceremony will air on ABC Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern (4:00 p.m. Pacific).

“The only reason I’m hosting ‘The Oscars’ next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech,” O’Brien said Monday.

“We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 98th Oscars!” Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement. “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. It is an honor to be working with them again.”

Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group said, “Conan delivered an unforgettable performance at ‘The Oscars,’ and we’re honored to have him and
the producing team back next year. 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.”

Meanwhile Kapoor and Mullan said, “We can’t wait to work with Conan and his entire team 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 2025 Oscars — the 97th ceremony — was a ratings win for ABC with 19.69 million viewers across ABC and Hulu, the largest audience since 2020. It was also a success with the key demo, with a 4.5 rating among 18-49 viewers, a 19% increase over 2024, and in the 18-34 demo it was 3.05, up 28% from last year. Overall, it was the the show’s biggest audience in the younger demo since 2019, though it was the fifth consecutive year that the Oscars have failed to reach 20 million viewers.

This year’s Oscars and received largely positive reviews, with TheWrap’s Brian Lowry noting that the show “largely mastered the delicate … juggling act, acknowledging weightier matters … while seeking to provide a sense of playfulness, even silliness, courtesy of (O’Brien).”

The back-to-back hosting gigs make O’Brien only the fifth person to host the Oscars solo in consecutive years, following Bob Hope (whose 19 shows included eight back-to-backs), Johnny Carson (whose five turns as host included three back-to-backs), Billy Crystal (who also did it in consecutive years three times) and Jimmy Kimmel (who did it in 2017 and 2018 and again in 2023 and 2024).

The March 15 date for the 98th Academy Awards will extend awards season for an additional two weeks past this year’s season, which came to an end with a March 2 Oscars. After a 17-year stretch beginning in 2004 in which the Oscars were held in February  13 times, the last five shows have taken place later than that, including a Covid-delayed April 25 show  in 2021.

While the prospect seems unlikely, O’Brien could conceivably be an Oscar host and a nominee on the same night. The comic plays a supporting role in director Mary Bronstein’s “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” which will be released by A24 after a well-received debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

The post Conan O’Brien to Return as Oscars Host in 2026 appeared first on TheWrap.