Conan O'Brien returns as host of the 98th Academy Awards tonight, marking his second consecutive year leading Hollywood's biggest night. The ceremony takes place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and airs live on ABC and Hulu at 7 p.m. ET.
Why Is He Hosting Again?
O'Brien's first turn at the helm last year drew nearly 20 million viewers - a five-year ratings high for the ceremony. The Academy didn't hesitate to bring him back. Academy CEO Bill Kramer called O'Brien "the perfect host - skillfully guiding us through the evening with humor, warmth and reverence." O'Brien himself had a simpler reason for returning: "The only reason I'm hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech," he joked, poking fun at Brody's record-breaking acceptance speech from last year.
What to Expect Tonight
O'Brien has been road-testing his opening monologue at comedy clubs in the weeks leading up to the show, teasing that some ideas are "a little more ambitious than last year." He also hinted at singing and dancing, saying "I think America demands to see Conan's body in motion."
One of the evening's most anticipated moments will be the extended In Memoriam segment. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are set to reunite to honor the late director Rob Reiner, who was killed along with his wife Michele in December 2025. O'Brien called it "a very powerful part of the show."
Who Is Conan O'Brien?
The Harvard-educated comedian hosted Late Night with Conan O'Brien from 1993 to 2009, The Tonight Show in 2009-2010, and Conan on TBS from 2010 to 2021. He was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2025 and received the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor the same year.
For many faith-minded viewers, O'Brien's consistent themes of self-deprecating humility, kindness, and perseverance - values he has openly spoken about throughout his career - make him one of Hollywood's most genuinely likeable figures on one of its biggest stages.
The 98th Oscars air tonight, March 15, live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.
