Conan O'Brien Will Host the 2027 Oscars for the Third Consecutive Year
Conan O'Brien is not done with the Oscars yet — and apparently, the Oscars are not done with him either.
Disney announced at its upfront presentation on Tuesday that O'Brien will return as host of the 99th Academy Awards on March 14, 2027, marking his third consecutive year leading Hollywood's biggest night. The announcement makes him the first person to host three years running since Billy Crystal, who helmed the ceremony eight times between 1990 and 2012.
The 99th Oscars will air live on ABC and Hulu from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
How This Happened
O'Brien's Oscars run began when he was announced as host of the 97th Academy Awards in 2025, stepping in after Jimmy Kimmel — who hosted in both 2023 and 2024 — declined a third consecutive year, citing the show's demanding workload. O'Brien, known for his decades in late-night television on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, and Conan, was widely praised for his first turn at the ceremony — and was brought back almost immediately for a second year.
His return for 2026 earned him an Emmy nomination for his work on the show. Even before the 2026 telecast wrapped, Disney Television's president of unscripted Rob Mills told Variety the night ended with a gag suggesting O'Brien was "Oscars host for life." Mills later clarified: "Conan is host for life, yes. 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."
Turns out it wasn't a comedy bit.
What Everyone Is Saying
The praise from the industry has been consistent across all three announcements.
"Conan has created remarkable energy around the Oscars," said Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group. "His singular comedic voice makes Hollywood's biggest night one of the most entertaining celebrations of the year."
Executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan — who are returning for their fourth consecutive year — were equally enthusiastic. "Getting to reunite with Conan O'Brien for a third year at the Oscars is really special," they said in a joint statement. "He brings that signature humor everyone loves, along with a real warmth and generosity that carry through the entire show. He's a true creative partner, someone we trust completely, and someone who makes the whole process genuinely fun."
Film Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor added: "They are an incredible team and have produced such captivating, entertaining and heartfelt shows over the last two years. We are so grateful for their ongoing partnership."
The Team Coming Back With Him
O'Brien isn't the only familiar face returning. Kapoor and Mullan are back as executive producers for the fourth consecutive year. Producers Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney are also returning for a third time, with Sweeney additionally serving as a writer on the show.
The continuity of the producing team is notable — it signals that ABC and the Academy have found a formula that works and have no interest in disrupting it. The Golden Globes have made a similar calculation, with Nikki Glaser recently being confirmed as Globes host for a third consecutive year as well.
A Quick Note on the Numbers
The 2026 Oscars did see a slight ratings dip compared to O'Brien's debut year — a fairly common pattern for award shows in their second year with the same host. But the creative reception remained strong enough that ABC brass moved quickly to lock him in for 2027 before any uncertainty could set in. ABC's contract with the Academy runs through 2028, making the 99th Oscars the penultimate ceremony under the current Disney deal.
O'Brien currently hosts the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast and the HBO travel series Conan O'Brien Must Go. He has won six Primetime Emmy Awards and earned 33 nominations across his career — including one for his Oscars work.
March 14, 2027. Mark it down.
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