Hollywood’s biggest night is back, and yep, you guessed it, Conan O’Brien is once again taking the stage as host of the Oscars.
The comedian and former late-night icon is returning to host the ceremony for the second year in a row. The 2026 show marks the 98th Academy Awards, celebrating the best films released in 2025. The ceremony takes place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and airs live on ABC. Plus, the ceremony is set to be streaming live on Hulu for the first time ever.
And if you’re wondering whether O’Brien is excited to be back? It definitely seems like it.
The longtime host recently opened up about preparing for the big night while appearing on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by NFL brothers, Jason and Travis Kelce; and it sounds like he’s been putting in a lot of work behind the scenes to make the show memorable.
Conan O’Brien is Back for Round Two
O’Brien first hosted the Oscars in 2025 and earned strong reactions from audiences and critics alike. So it’s not too surprising the Academy brought him back for another year.
This year, the ceremony includes 24 award categories, recognizing everything from Best Picture and Best Animated Feature Film to awards honoring achievements in areas like casting, cinematography, and costume design.
For O’Brien, the preparation process starts well before the red carpet rolls out.
On the podcast, he explained how his writing team helps shape the material that will eventually make it into the opening monologue and throughout the night.
“A lot of these are writers that I’ve used before. They’ve worked with me for years. I mean, I’ve been at this forever. I have all my favorite writers come in for this and we just get a room going… it’s not probably unlike your world where it’s all about preparation. So we get people together and we start a couple of months ago and we just start working.”
The collaborative environment sounds like something he genuinely enjoys.
“We have a room that goes all the time and I drop in and out of it. I usually just waste their time… I get them laughing, but it’s not in any way productive for the audience. You always got a vibe check… That’s, that part… is probably my favorite part. The two things I miss the most when I’m not working on a project like this or doing a late night show is the band and the writers.”
Testing Jokes Before the Big Night
GettyOf course, crafting an Oscars monologue isn’t just about sitting in a writers’ room.
“This was a great year. I mean, this was a year where there’s big stars in the films. There’s a lot of great movies. There’s, you know, box office hits. I mean, movies that did really well. So I watched them all and I thought this is a great crop of movies. So it’s a good year to host. I was excited about it.”
O’Brien then revealed that he’s also been testing material in comedy clubs leading up to the ceremony; sometimes popping in unexpectedly to see what works with a live audience.
“Probably one of the best things to do, which I’ve been doing now for about two months, is I go to clubs and I show up as a surprise and I go to far-flung clubs. Like really clubs that are way out there… you go out and you try jokes out, and you over time, you get a sense of these ones seem to consistently do well. This one doesn’t seem to land right.”
So what makes it all work? According to Conan, being prepared. He said, “And it’s just a lot of, again something you guys can relate to, prep. I mean, a lot of things in life are put in the work and do the prep.”
A Big Night for Movies (and Fans)
With a lineup of major films, star-studded presenters, and a host who clearly loves the process, the 2026 Oscars are shaping up to be a fun celebration of movies.
And let’s be real: Conan O’Brien’s mix of quick wit, self-aware humor, and genuine love for entertainment tends to make award shows a lot more fun to watch.
If his preparation process is any indication, he’s ready to bring the laughs (and maybe a few surprises) when Hollywood gathers for the biggest night in film.
The Oscars air live Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 7:00pm ET on ABC and Hulu.
