Disney revealed if Conan O’Brien will take on hosting duties at the Oscars for a third year in a row following a major decline in viewership.
The 63-year-old TV host had been joined by an A-list crowd which included Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio just two months earlier at the 98th Academy Awards in Hollywood.
However, ABC raked in just 17.86 million viewers which was a 9% decline from 2025 and the lowest Oscars viewership since 2022.
Despite the recent ratings, Disney announced on Tuesday that the comedian will host the awards show once again in 2027.
The president of Disney Television Group, Craig Erwich, said in a statement, ‘Conan has created remarkable energy around the Oscars,’ per The Hollywood Reporter.
‘His singular comedic voice makes Hollywood’s biggest night one of the most entertaining celebrations of the year.’
Disney has revealed if Conan O’Brien, 63, will take on hosting duties at the Oscars for a third year in a row following a major decline in viewership; seen in March in Hollywood
Producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan are also returning for the fourth time for the upcoming ceremony, which is set to take place on March 14, 2027.
‘Getting to reunite with Conan O’Brien for a third year at the Oscars is really special,’ Kapoor and Mullan also said.
‘He brings that signature humor everyone loves, along with a real warmth and generosity that carry through the entire show.’
The pair applauded their partnership with the former late night talk show host before adding they are ‘incredibly grateful to keep building this together and can’t wait to share what’s next.’
O’Brien first hosted the Academy Awards in 2025 and took to the stage once again back in March.
A number of celebrities made an appearance at this year’s ceremony, and the comedian notably left Chalamet squirming in his seat next to girlfriend Kylie Jenner as he called out the Oscar nominee’s ‘opera and ballet’ jab controversy.
He also poked fun at both Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan before the awards were given out.
Before his hosting gig, O’Brien had notably tested out some material at comedy clubs.
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Despite the recent ratings, Disney announced on Tuesday that the comedian will host the awards show once again in 2027; seen in March in Hollywood
A number of celebrities made an appearance at this year’s ceremony, and the comedian notably left Chalamet squirming in his seat next to girlfriend Kylie Jenner as he called out the Oscar nominee’s ‘opera and ballet’ jab controversy; Chalamet and Jenner seen above in March
And in regards to his first time having the chance to host the Academy Awards in 2025, he told ABC News the experience had been a 15 ‘on a scale of 1 to 10.’
This year’s ceremony saw a 9% decline in viewership with 17.86 million viewers tuning in to the ceremony.
The previous year in 2025, the Academy Awards raked in around 19.7 million viewers.
The annual ceremony has been airing on ABC for decades, but will come to an end in 2029 when the show will be livestreamed on YouTube.
Viewers from around the globe will have the chance to watch the awards event for free via YouTube while commercials are set to also still be aired, per Variety.
The move ‘will allow us to expand access to the work of the Academy to the largest worldwide audience possible.’
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor issued a statement late last year at the time of the announcement.
‘We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming.’
However, ABC raked in just 17.86 million viewers which was a 9% decline from 2025 and the lowest Oscars viewership since 2022
The annual ceremony has been airing on ABC for decades, but will come to an end in 2029 when the show will be livestreamed on YouTube
Kramer and Taylor later added that the ‘collaboration will leverage YouTube’s vast reach and infuse the Oscars and other Academy programming with innovative opportunities for engagement while honoring our legacy.
‘We will be able to celebrate cinema, inspire new generations of filmmakers and provide access to our film history on an unprecedented global scale.’
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan also stated that the Academy Awards ‘are one of our essential cultural institutions, honoring excellence in storytelling and artistry.
‘Partnering with the Academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.’
Viewers took to social media to share their thoughts over this year’s Oscars ceremony with one penning, ‘Please cancel the oscars #Oscars” O’Brien and Sterling K. Brown seen in March in Hollywood
Viewers took to social media to share their thoughts over this year’s Oscars ceremony with one penning, ‘Please cancel the oscars #Oscars.’
Another penned, ‘Just cancel the Oscars at this point. Who cares,’ while a social media users added, ‘The Oscars are sooooo predictable it’s just what wins at BAFTA or sag.’
‘#Oscars And thats done. This time around, I felt the ceremony was a bit… Boring. Like, very boring. Then again I didnt pay attention to the whole thing. Lol,’ one said.
Along with the transition to YouTube in 2029, the location for the Oscars will also be moved to the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles instead of the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
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