Conan O’Brien is set to return as the host of the 98th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 15, 2026, the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences announced on Monday. This will mark O’Brien’s second consecutive year as the Oscars host, after his successful debut at the 97th edition earlier this month.
The official Academy Awards handle on X (formerly Twitter) shared the news with a playful St. Patrick’s Day twist, posting a photo of O’Brien holding an Oscar trophy along with the caption: “Forget the pot of gold—this St. Patrick’s Day, we’re giving you something even better. @ConanOBrien is officially returning to host the 98th Oscars.”
Forget the pot of gold—this St. Patrick’s Day, we’re giving you something even better. @ConanOBrien is officially returning to host the 98th Oscars! pic.twitter.com/Z2zOKbGO5Q
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 17, 2025
In typical O’Brien fashion, the comedian added his own humorous touch to the announcement. Referring to Adrien Brody’s record-setting five-minute acceptance speech after winning Best Actor for The Brutalist, O’Brien quipped, “The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech.”
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang expressed their excitement in a joint statement, praising O’Brien’s performance this year. “We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff, and Mike for the 98th Oscars! 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 humour, warmth, and reverence. It is an honour to be working with them again.”
The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2 at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, drew 19.69 million viewers across ABC and digital platforms, making it the most-watched Oscars in five years. With O’Brien set to return, anticipation for the 2026 ceremony is already building.
