The 2026 Academy Awards event is returning to celebrate the biggest cinematic achievements of the past year on March 15, 2026. From Sinners to Jurassic World Rebirth, major films are waiting to learn their Oscar fate, while a dazzling lineup of nominees and guests is set to strut the glamorous red carpet. And as the Academy prepares for another larger-than-life night in Hollywood, who will lead the event?

Last year, Conan O’Brien took the reins after Jimmy Kimmel refused to host the Oscars in 2025. Will he return for another entertaining ride, or will the Academy have a new face this year?

Host and comedian Conan O’Brien will return to emcee the Oscars, as per the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Now, the announcement does not come as a surprise after last year’s event drew a massive 19.7 million viewers, as per Disney. Both fans and the Academy were impressed with O’Brien’s performance.

After landing the gig, O’Brien even joked that one of his reasons for hosting again was to finally see Adrien Brody finish an acceptance speech, which was a playful nod to Brody’s famously five-minute-long speech last year. While there is excitement around O’Brien’s return, fans have not forgotten the 4x Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel. He had even shared the reason for turning down the chance to host in 2025.

“It was just too much last year. You wind up pushing everything off till after the Oscars, and then you have to do everything you promised to do after the Oscars, after the Oscars. I did two years [2017 and 2018], it went well,” he said. “I did another two years [2023 and 2024], it went well. I figured I’d take a little break.”

That said, the door is not completely closed, and a future return has not been ruled out. Surprisingly, Kimmel is not the only comedian to pass on the role. Stand-up comic and actor John Mulaney also declined the hosting offer and later opened up about his reasons for rejecting the big opportunity.

After Jimmy Kimmel stepped aside, reports claimed that John Mulaney was also offered the opportunity to host the 2025 Oscars, which he ultimately declined. The comedian later confirmed the offer and expressed gratitude for being considered. However, like Kimmel, Mulaney had a similar reason for turning down the prestigious gig.

“It was honestly that I had a lot going on. And it’s months and months of work,” John said on the WTF podcast.

He also went on to praise Conan O’Brien’s performance at the 2025 ceremony.

“He not only was so funny, but he elevated the show to the point that I almost convinced myself I had seen these movies and I’d seen not  one of them.”

That explains why O’Brien was offered the role. After such an entertaining turn at the 97th Oscars, expectations are higher this time with big names nominated for the honor, and O’Brien surely will not disappoint.

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Would you rather see Conan O’Brien or Jimmy Kimmel host the 2027 Oscars? Let us know in the comments section below.