Conan O’Brien made his launching at the 2025Oscars , where he became wide popular with audiences , and securedConan ’s restoration to host the 2026 Oscars ceremony . This is a momentous occasion , break the seemingly unbreakable nature of a hosting streak , that proves it wo n’t terminate anytime soon . The veteran comedian ’s performance was the most salient praise in2025 Oscar follow-up , and resulted in the high ratings the Academy Awards have seen in the preceding five year .

Between the proclamation ofwinners at the 2025 Academy Awards , Conan transformed the observance with his expertly crafted comedic hosting and the self - deprecate humor he ’s become known for . The event benefited from a fresh approach after historically face challenges in securing hosts , and Conan ’s Modern era has made it unclouded that the ceremonial occasion ’s success hinges on the performance of the central legion . Conan ’s participation in the 2026 effect will reignite the ceremonial ’s momentum , and not only ensure its continued achiever , but supply a vital phase for comedians .

A Major Actor Hasn’t Hosted The Oscars In 10 Years Now

Chris Rock Was The Last Actor To Solo Host The Prestigious Event

Conan O’Brien ’s restitution to the 2026 Oscars upshot is significant considering the lineup of legion for the event in late old age . Strangely , the Academy Awards have not had an actor to host since 2016 . Chris Rock take the stage for the 88th observance where he had success with tackling the lack of diverseness in the nominations . Rock was reportedly call for to hark back in 2023 , though he turned down the invitation following the disceptation with Will Smith the yr prior ( viaVanity Fair . ) Jimmy Kimmel host the two years after 2016 , but otherwise , there has been no odd A - List host .

master of ceremonies

Year

Conan O’Brien hosting an event

Ceremony

Conan O’Brien

2025

Anna Kendrick as Stephanie and Blake Lively as Emily on a plane in Another Simple Favor.

97th Academy Awards

Jimmy Kimmel

2024

Michael Keaton looking at Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

96th Academy Awards

2023

95th Academy Awards

Conan O’Brien singing at the 2025 Oscars

The Academy Awards

Regina Hall , Amy Schumer , and Wanda Sykes

2022

94th Academy Awards

Conan O’Brien Oscars 2025 CinemaStreams bit

The Academy Awards

No legion

2021

93rd Academy Awards

Oscars Header

2020

92nd Academy Awards

2019

The Oscars Poster Featuring an Oscars Statue Standing in front of a curtain

91st Academy Awards

2018

90th Academy Awards

Movies

2017

89th Academy Awards

Chris Rock

The Oscars | Academy Awards

2016

88th Academy Awards

Interestingly , the Academy Awards ceremonial fit without a host for three age , from 2019 to 2021 . The sharp conclusion was initially the moment ofKevin Hart withdrawing from the Oscarsin 2019 following backlash over a series of online tweets , which resulted in the unsuccessful seeking to find a host for the ceremony . Strangely enough , the designated host immediately after this stretch were Regina Hall , Amy Schumer , and Wanda Sykes during the global pandemic in 2022 . It ’s fair to say that this active trio was ill received , and the duty was returned to Kimmel for the 2023 and 2024 ceremony .

Conan O’Brien

Hosting The Oscars Has Become An Unwanted Gig For Major Stars

The Duty Has Become Too High Pressure For Any Actor

There have been plenty of reports of legion actors who have been approached to host the event but have go down . accord to Rob Lowe , the Academy Awards are " basically a show that nobody wants to do . It ’s really distressing . But honestly , they ’ve got nobody to blame but themselves " ( viaVanity Fair.)There is likely a consensus within the industry that host is a " ungratifying job,“although a great figure of actors have been approached for the result . Not to mention , the line carries an excalating risk due to its gamy potential for failure , which often leads to severe criticism of the host .

Conan O’Brien bring the perfect balance of humor and reverence into his hosting for the 97th Academy Awards in 2025 , revitalizing the Oscars .

In the past tense , Dwayne ' The Rock ' Johnson has been approach to take the mantle , joining Hart . Although Johnson was eager to host beforescheduling conflicts forJumanji , other A - Listers have been more explicitly unfaltering in their refusal . Emily Blunt is perhaps the most authoritative example , who toldVariety , " I would not [ host the Oscars ] . That would be the depths of snake pit for me . “The combination of enhance social media examination with decay in viewership has made the undertaking less suitable for these major stars , mean that the vast majority of sensation who have been approached have pass on the chance .

The Era Of A-List Stars Hosting The Oscars Is Probably Over

The Role Has Become More Acclimatized To Comedians

gratuitous to say , Conan did a superb Book of Job host the 2025 Oscars . This marks the first time the comedian spearhead the upshot and the role seemed seamster - made for him . Conan ’s approaching was to " infuse the show with positivity , " according toThe New York Times , which was exactly what the event needed . Before this , Kimmel was an increasingly safe wager , and honest enough to sanction two sequential years of hosting and four in amount . The result has not had a successful a - middlebreaker for a prospicient time , and it ’s clear that the academy has been drifting from this for several old age .

The shift towards comedic hosts is more appropriate , since host needs to plight the audience and mean that actors can remain at the forefront of the Oscarsceremony .

Other award ceremony appear to be emulate the Academy ’s course , too . Nikki Glaser of late had an incredibly successful run at the Golden Globesand has been asked to generate to host the 2026 ceremony . The public eye at these ceremony is stir towards comedians , used as a political platform to perform for an event of immense scale and reach . The shift towards comedic legion is more appropriate , since hosting needs to prosecute the audiences and means that actors can remain at the forefront of theOscarsceremony .

Source : Vanity Fair , Vanity Fair , The New York Times

https://www.oscars.org/