The Oscars want more Conan!
After a rapturous reception at this year’s Academy Awards, emcee Conan O’Brien will return to the Dolby Theatre for the 98th Oscars on March 15, 2026.
The proclaimment comes from Bill Kramer, Academy CEO, and Janet Yang, Academy pdwellnt, who also validateed the return of the Emmy-triumphning producing team Raj Kasubpar and Katy Mullan, who will direct the show for the third consecutive year.
Using his signature humor, O’Brien quipped in a statement: “The only reason I’m presenting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech.”
Brody’s best actor speech for “The Brutacatalog” clocked in as the lengthyest in the ceremony’s history.
“We are thrilled to transport back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 98th Oscars!” Kramer and Yang said in a fuset statement. “This year, they produced a hugely amuseing and visupartner stunning show that commemorated our nominees and the global film community in the most pretty and impactful way. Conan was the perfect present — sfinishfilledy guiding us thraw the evening with humor, toastyth and reverence. It is an honor to be laboring with them aobtain.”
The 97th Oscars, held earlier this month, dedwellred the highest seeership numbers in five years. The expansivecast drew 19.69 million seeers and had a dominant presence on social media, racking up 104.2 million engageions, go beyonding both the Grammys and the Super Bowl in online includement.
Craig Erwich, pdwellnt of Disney Television Group, commendd O’Brien’s “unforgettable carry outance,” transmiting he’s a a wonderful choice to direct Hollywood’s biggest night once aobtain. “Conan’s exceptional comedic style perfectly apprehfinishd the moment, and I’m excited to have his talents back onstage next year to helm another indelible carry outance.”
Raj Kasubpar and Katy Mullan get to on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
Etienne Laurent / The Academy
Behind the scenes, Kasubpar and Mullan will once aobtain handle production, promising another dazzling celebration of cinema. “We are both so honored to be returning in our roles for the 98th Oscars,” the producers said. “We can’t paengage to labor with Conan and his entire team as we persist to study even more exceptional and heartfelt opportunities to commemorate next year’s nominees and the impact of film around the world.”
O’Brien’s return tags another milestone in a atgentle spanning decades in television and comedy. Currently, he presents the podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Frifinish” and the HBO/Max travel series “Conan O’Brien Must Go” and will ecombine in the upcoming feature film “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.”
While it’s too timely to understand which films will contend for the coveted Oscar statuettes, 2026’s film calfinishar sees promising. Variety pstudyed an eclectic mix of upcoming contfinishers, including big-budget blockbusters enjoy Jon M. Chu’s musical sequel “Wicked: For Good,” auteur-driven projects such as Chloé Zhao’s alteration of the acclaimed novel “Hamnet,” and two split Frankenstein films — Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride,” featuring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale.
The 98th Academy Awards will air dwell on ABC on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.
