Conan O’Brien has ‘standing offer’ to host Oscars till 2029

Conan O’Brien may have appeared in what looked like a tongue‑in‑cheek “host for life” moment at the end of the 98th Academy Awards, but executives behind the scenes are suggesting the joke wasn’t far from the truth. According to Rob Mills, EVP of Unscripted & Alternative Entertainment for Walt Disney Television, O’Brien has a standing offer to host the Oscars for as long as he wants.

At the ceremony on March 15, a pre‑taped vignette closed the broadcast with O’Brien being appointed “Host for Life,” blending comedy with a surreal promise. But Mills told Variety that the spirit of the gag might be closer to reality than a typical awards ceremony joke. “Oh, that is no joke, Conan is host for life,” Mills said, explaining that Disney intends to treat the bit as “if that was fact.”

When asked directly whether there was truth to O’Brien’s line about the Oscars soon being without a “human host,” Mills doubled down on his enthusiasm for O’Brien’s return. “Conan has, obviously, a standing offer to host as long as he wants,” the exec said, adding with a laugh: “One‑hundred percent we’d love him back.” He also hinted that if O’Brien stepped away, the next host might not even be human, leaving the door open to all kinds of creative possibilities.

It’s worth noting that Disney and broadcast partner ABC hold the rights to the Academy Awards telecast for just two more years before the show relocates exclusively to YouTube starting in 2029. That shift to a digital platform has industry watchers speculating how the broadcast might evolve in format, tone and hosting style, but for now, O’Brien appears firmly in Disney’s plans.

O’Brien first hosted the Oscars in 2025, and while viewers initially questioned the pairing of a late‑night comedian with Hollywood’s most prestigious stage, ratings showed that his first night increased viewership to a five‑year high, with 19.7 million viewers tuning in. The strong performance paved the way for his return this year, and according to insiders, sealed Disney’s desire to keep him at the helm.

In an interview with LateNighter, O’Brien reflected on his first Oscars gig by saying it was driven by curiosity and a willingness to try something new. And after his second turn, he confirmed he “had such a good time the first time” that returning made sense.

Fans online have since celebrated the idea of O’Brien continuing as Oscars host, citing his blend of humour, humility and unexpected charm on a stage that has been criticised in recent years for dull moments and missteps. Even critics of the broadcast acknowledged that his presence injected levity and genuine personality into an event that often struggles to balance tradition with modern entertainment value.