The 2025 Oscars are set to be hosted by none other than the witty Conan O’Brien. This much-anticipated hosting news was revealed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in November. It will mark O’Brien’s debut as the host of the prestigious Oscars, following his previous hosting stints at the Emmys in 2002 and 2006. In a humorous statement announcing his hosting role, O’Brien quipped, “America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”
The announcement of Conan O’Brien as the host was met with enthusiasm from the Academy’s top brass. Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang expressed their excitement, stating, “We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year.” They lauded O’Brien’s brilliant humor, his passion for movies, and his expertise in live TV, highlighting his remarkable ability to engage with audiences as key attributes that make him an ideal host for the show. Executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan also praised O’Brien, describing him as possessing all the qualities of a great Oscars host — wit, charisma, and comedic prowess, coupled with a proven track record in live event television.
The 97th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 2 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, as revealed in the November news release by the academy. The star-studded show is slated to kick off at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
For those eager to tune in to the 2025 Oscars, the award show will be broadcast live on ABC and streamed simultaneously on Hulu, ensuring viewers don’t miss a moment of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s biggest night.
In reflecting on past Oscar hosts, viewers may recall Jimmy Kimmel anchoring the show for the fourth time in March of the previous year, having previously helmed the event in 2017, 2018, and 2023. Kimmel, in a lighthearted manner, disclosed that he had been approached to host the 2025 Oscars but had declined the offer, jokingly citing a potential change of heart to spite President-elect Donald Trump, who had criticized his performance.
The Oscars have seen various hosting formats over the years, including a period from 2019 to 2021 where the show experimented with not having a single host at all. This format emerged following Kevin Hart’s withdrawal from the hosting role in 2018 due to backlash over past controversial tweets. Subsequently, in 2022, the trio of Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes, and Amy Schumer took the stage as co-hosts. Kimmel later voiced his opinion that the absence of a singular host may have posed challenges, particularly evident during the unexpected
