Conan O’Brien will return as host of the 99th annual Academy Awards, marking his third consecutive year in the role. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed Tuesday that the Emmy-winning comedian and television veteran will lead the ceremony, which is scheduled to air live on ABC and Hulu on March 14, 2027.
The decision to bring O’Brien back follows a significant ratings boost during his first stint as host in 2025, when viewership reached a five-year high of more than 19 million people. Following the success of his second year hosting the ceremony this past March, Disney executives moved quickly to secure him for the 2027 broadcast.
Walt Disney Television Executive Vice President Rob Mills previously addressed the comedian’s recurring role, saying the network viewed the partnership as a long-term arrangement. “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.”
Returning alongside O’Brien are producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, who will oversee the live event for a fourth consecutive year. The producers described reuniting with O’Brien as “really special,” emphasizing the trust and creative partnership they have developed with the host. “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. We’re incredibly grateful to keep building this together and can’t wait to share what’s next,” they said.
For O’Brien, the role has a personal touch. During a press conference ahead of the 98th Academy Awards in March, he reflected on the ceremony as a way to connect with his father, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, who died in December 2024. Recalling how he watched Johnny Carson host the show 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 I would think, what’s my dad into? And is that a way to connect with my dad?”
He explained that his father’s “treat” was watching Carson, which allowed O’Brien to stay up late and join him. “And I remember very clearly Johnny Carson hosting the Oscars and watching my father watch Johnny and laugh,” O’Brien said. “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 also maintained a lighter perspective on the demanding role. In a 2025 remark, he joked: “The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech.”
