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Conan O’Brien is officially returning to host the 99th edition of the Oscars in 2027, marking his third consecutive year leading Hollywood’s biggest night. The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon by the Academy’s CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor during the Disney upfronts in New York.
The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air live on ABC and Hulu from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 14, 2027, at 7 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. PT. Alongside O’Brien, executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will also return for a fourth consecutive year, while Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney are back as producers for the third time. Sweeney will once again serve as writer for the show.
In a joint statement, Kramer and Howell Taylor praised the returning team, saying they were excited to continue working with O’Brien and the production crew after the success of the previous ceremonies. They described the team as “captivating, entertaining and heartfelt,” adding that they were grateful for the partnership as the Academy continues celebrating the global film community.
O’Brien received strong praise for his performance during this year’s Oscars ceremony in March. His humor and stage presence were widely appreciated, and discussions about his return began almost immediately after the telecast ended. During the closing moments of the show, a comedic gag hinted that O’Brien was now “Oscars host for life.” Although initially treated as a joke, Disney Television executive Rob Mills later suggested there was truth behind it.
Speaking after the ceremony, Mills said the network was fully prepared to bring O’Brien back again, adding that they were treating the joke as fact. With this latest announcement, it now appears that O’Brien has firmly established himself as one of the Academy’s favorite modern hosts.
O’Brien remains one of television’s most recognizable comedy figures. Over the years, he hosted “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” and “Conan.” He currently hosts the popular podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” as well as the HBO travel series “Conan O’Brien Must Go.” Throughout his career, he has earned six Primetime Emmy Awards and received 33 Emmy nominations, including recognition connected to his Oscars work.
Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich also praised O’Brien’s impact on the ceremony, saying the comedian had created “remarkable energy” around the Oscars. Erwich added that O’Brien’s unique comedic style continues to make the awards one of the entertainment industry’s most enjoyable celebrations.
Executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan also expressed excitement about returning for another year with O’Brien. In their statement, they highlighted his humor, warmth and generosity, describing him as a trusted creative partner who makes both the production process and the live show enjoyable behind the scenes and on stage.
Kapoor and Mullan are both experienced live event producers with impressive credits. Kapoor previously won an Emmy for his work on the 96th Oscars and has contributed to productions such as “Adele: One Night Only,” the Grammys and the Paris Olympics LA28 Handover Closing Ceremony. Mullan, who also earned an Emmy for the 96th Oscars, has worked on projects including the London Olympics opening and closing ceremonies and “The Little Mermaid Live!”
Ross and Sweeney also bring years of experience from working closely with O’Brien across multiple projects, including “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” and “Conan O’Brien Must Go.”
Disney currently holds broadcasting rights to the Oscars through the Academy Awards’ historic 100th edition in 2028. According to the announcement, the ceremony is then expected to move to YouTube and relocate to the Peacock Theatre in downtown Los Angeles beginning in 2029.
