Conan O’Brien is officially returning to host the Oscars for a third year in a row, with the 99th Academy Awards set for March 14, 2027.
Disney confirmed the news during its upfront presentation this week, locking O’Brien back in after two ceremonies that helped bring fresh energy to an awards show often criticised for feeling too long or overly formal. The 2027 ceremony will air live on ABC and Hulu from Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre.
O’Brien’s return is not exactly surprising. His mix of self-aware humour, quick one-liners and relaxed delivery has gone down well with both viewers and critics, giving the Oscars a more conversational tone without losing the event’s scale.
Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich said O’Brien has brought “remarkable energy” to the ceremony. Meanwhile, producers have praised him for being as involved behind the scenes as he is on stage.
The Academy is also sticking with the same creative team that has shaped the show over the past few years. Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan are returning as executive producers for the fourth consecutive year, while Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney are back for a third run. Sweeney will also continue as a writer for the broadcast, helping maintain the show’s sharper comedic style.
O’Brien now joins a small group of repeat Oscars hosts, alongside names like Steve Martin and David Niven. The all-time record still belongs to Bob Hope, who hosted the Academy Awards 19 times. Repeat hosts are becoming more common across major award shows, too, with Nikki Glaser also recently signing on to host the Golden Globes for a third consecutive year.
Ratings for the Oscars remain unpredictable, even with a popular host in place. O’Brien’s first ceremony in 2025 pulled in nearly 19.7 million viewers, marking a post-pandemic high for the awards.
The 2026 broadcast dipped to 17.9 million viewers, but the Academy has pointed to strong social media engagement as more viewers now follow the event through clips, reactions and online highlights instead of watching the full broadcast live.
The 2027 ceremony will also be one of the final Oscars held under the show’s current setup. From 2029, the awards are expected to move from the Dolby Theatre to the Peacock Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, while YouTube will take over as the ceremony’s streaming home.
