Conan O'Brien to return as 2027 Oscars host, going for three-peat
Conan O'Brien to return as 2027 Oscars host, going for three-peat
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY Tue, May 12, 2026 at 8:45 PM UTC
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Conan O'Brien is going for the Oscars host three-peat.
O'Brien, 63, will return to host the 99th Oscars, his third consecutive stint behind the awards podium, ABC announced at parent company Walt Disney's Upfront presentation for advertisers on May 12 in New York City. The Academy Awards will air on March 14 on ABC and stream on Hulu (7 p.m. ET/4 PT).
"We look forward to Conan superbly leading the celebration with his brilliance and humor," a joint statement read from Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor.
The "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend" podcast host helmed the Oscars in 2025 and 2026 to universal acclaim in one of the toughest jobs in Hollywood. His first ceremony, the 97th Oscars in March 2025, drew roughly 19.7 million viewers, marking a five-year high for the telecast. He returned for the 98th Oscars in 2026, with ratings dipping about 9% to approximately 17.9 million viewers. The ceremony still ranked as TV's top primetime entertainment broadcast of the season.
Conan O'Brien attends the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026, in Hollywood.
Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will return as producers for a third time, and Sweeney will also serve as a writer.
Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will return as the show’s executive producers for the fourth consecutive year. Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will return as producers for a third time, and Sweeney will also serve as a writer.
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Is Conan O'Brien setting a record as host?
Not quite. Bob Hope hosted the Oscars 19 times, and Billy Crystal hosted nine times. Jimmy Kimmel has hosted four times: in 2017 and 2018, then returned in 2023 and 2024.
But there's still time.
'DWTS' names new contestant for Season 35
In other Disney Upfront news, internet personality and second baseman for the Savannah Bananas, Jackson Olson, joins Season 35 of "Dancing with the Stars" as celebrity contestant and company softball team ringer.
Maura Higgins, star of “The Traitors” and “Love Island,” along with Ciara Miller, star of scandalous "Summer House," were previously announced as the first celebrities to compete this season.
The full cast of celebrities and professional dancers will be announced Wednesday, September 2, exclusively on Good Morning America.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Conan O'Brien returns as 2027 Oscars host in Academy Awards three-peat
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
