Following the success of hosting this year’s Oscars award ceremony, Disney has announced that Conan O’Brien will be returning to host the show for a second year in 2026.  

It’s also been announced that Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will return as the show’s executive producers for the third consecutive year.  Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will return as producers for a second time.  Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a statement:

“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 humor, warmth and reverence. It is an honor to be working with them again.”

O’Brien is best known for hosting the late-night talk shows “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” and “Conan.” Before his more than two-decade hosting career, he served as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons.” Currently, O’Brien hosts the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast, MAX travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” and has a supporting role in the feature film “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.” He has won five Primetime Emmys and earned 31 nominations for his work.   Conan also added to the statement regarding his return:

“The only reason I’m hosting ‘The Oscars’ next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech”

Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan also said in a statement regarding their return:

“We are both so honored to be returning in our roles for the 98th Oscars.  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 president of Disney Television Group, Craig Erwich, also added:

“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.”

The recent Oscars delivered a five-year high in both Total Viewers (19.69 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.54 rating) and ranked as the No. 1 primetime entertainment telecast in both Total Viewers and Adults for the 2024-2025 season. The 97th Oscars earned 104.2 million total social interactions, ranking as the No. 1 most social TV program season to date, outperforming both “The GRAMMY Awards” (102.2 million interactions) and “The Super Bowl” (62.4 million) this season for the first time on record.

The 98th Oscar Awards will take place on Sunday, 15th March 2026, at 7 p.m. EDT/4 p.m. PDT at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide on Disney+.

What do you think of Conan O’Brien returning as the host of the Oscars? Let me know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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