The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday that Conan O’Brien will return as the host of the 98th edition of the Oscars, which will take place on March 15, 2026. His return comes after the resounding success of the 2025 ceremony, which set a record for viewership and was highly popular on social media.
The 2025 ceremony was the most watched in the last five years, with 19.69 million viewers and a 4.54 rating in the 18-49 adult segment. Additionally, it generated 104.2 million interactions on social media, surpassing for the first time the Grammy Awards (102.2 million) and the Super Bowl (62.4 million).
That will be your return
Along with O’Brien, executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will return, as well as producers Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney, who worked on the last two editions of the ceremony. Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy, and outgoing president Janet Yang, expressed their enthusiasm in a statement: “This year, they produced a visually stunning show that celebrated the nominees and the global film community. Conan was the perfect host, guiding us with humor, warmth, and respect. It is an honor to work with them again.”
O’Brien was also enthusiastic about his return, although he joked about his participation: “The only reason I’m going to host the Oscars next year is because I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech.” Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, highlighted the impact of the last ceremony: “Conan delivered a memorable performance at the Oscars, and we are honored to have him back. His comedic style perfectly captured the moment, and I’m excited to see him lead another great night next year.”
Conan O’Brien’s salary
Although the exact amount that Conan O’Brien was paid for hosting the 2025 Oscars has not been revealed, it is estimated that hosts of the ceremony receive between 15,000 and 25,000 dollars. This amount is relatively low when compared to the salaries of other individuals involved in the ceremony.
The controversial appearance of Conan O’Brien at the 2025 Oscars
The 97th edition of the Oscars started with controversy when Conan O’Brien, while opening the ceremony, made comments about Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón, who was nominated for her role in “Emilia Pérez.” O’Brien referred to Gascón’s career and the controversies that have marked her path to the ceremony, sparking both laughter and discomfort among the attendees.
One of O’Brien’s most controversial jokes alluded to the movie Anora, famous for its explicit language. O’Brien commented: “In the movie Anora, the word ‘f*ck’ was used more than 300 times in a single dialogue, that’s more than the number of times it was said by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist.” While this statement made some people laugh, it also caused discomfort in certain sectors, especially due to the recent controversies surrounding the actress, generating a lot of interest on social media.