Emmy-winning television presenter Conan O’Brien will host the 97th Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences announced on Friday. The 2025 Oscars ceremony is set to take place on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
“Conan O’Brien is officially your 97th Oscars host,” The Academy wrote on social media alongside a video of Conan holding the Oscar statuette. “This is incredible. I’ve been handed an Oscar. I’m an Oscar winner,” the comedian said as someone interjected to say, “No. You’re the host”.
A crestfallen Conan asks if he can at least keep the Oscar statuette, only to be refused once again.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Janet Yang expressed their excitement over O’Brien’s selection. “We are thrilled and honoured to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year,” said Kramer and Yang in a joint statement to the American media.
“He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise. His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best — honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year, the statement further read”
This will mark O’Brien’s debut as host of the Oscars, a role he takes on after decades of late-night television fame and live event experience. While O’Brien may be new to the Oscars stage, he’s no stranger to hosting high-profile awards shows, having successfully hosted the Primetime Emmys in 2002 and 2006, as well as the MTV Movie Awards in 2014.
Conan O’Brien is best known for his long-running tenure as a host on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, and Conan, which solidified his place as one of TV’s most endearing comedic talents. Before his illustrious hosting career, O'Brien honed his comedic chops as a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.
Most recently, he has found success in the podcasting world with Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and starred in the 2024 travel series Conan O’Brien Must Go. Over the course of his career, O’Brien has won five Primetime Emmys and received 31 nominations.
