Conan O’Brien is poised to score a hat trick as host, returning to helm the Oscars for a third straight year in 2027.
The Academy made the announcement on Tuesday, May 12, confirming that the 63-year-old actor will headline the 99th annual Academy Awards.
The rare move follows O’Brien’s critically acclaimed turns in 2025 and 2026, which saw the ceremony’s television ratings reach a five-year high.
The decision to bring back the old Late at night The star has received widespread praise from industry leaders.
Craig Erwich, chairman of Disney Television Group, noted that Conan created a “remarkable energy” around the broadcast, describing his comedic voice as a key factor in making Hollywood’s biggest night one of the most entertaining celebrations of the year.
O’Brien will reunite with executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, who are returning for the fourth consecutive year and have hailed him as a “true creative partner”.
O’Brien has joked about his recurring role, previously joking that the only reason he took the job in 2026 was to hear actor Adrien Brody finally finish his record-breaking acceptance speech.
Beyond the jokes, however, the role holds a deeply personal meaning for the host.
O’Brien shared that watching his late father, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, make fun of Johnny Carson at the Academy Awards was a formative experience.
Following his father’s death in December 2024, O’Brien admitted that being part of that same legacy feels like an incredible “cosmic” connection to his father.
