Conan O'Brien to Host 2026 Oscars at Dolby Theatre

Conan O’Brien will return as the host of the 98th Academy Awards in 2026 after a successful debut this year that garnered high praise and record viewership. The ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, with executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, and producers Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney returning. O’Brien's witty humor, including jokes about Adrien Brody's record-long acceptance speech, resonated well with audiences, contributing to the Oscars' highest viewership in five years with 19.69 million viewers. The Academy and ABC's early announcement of O'Brien's return reflects confidence in his ability to host a captivating and entertaining show. The 2025 Oscars, featuring musical elements and a humorous jab at Donald Trump, also saw a significant increase in social media interactions, outperforming the Grammys and Super Bowl.