If Oscar ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Er, him?
Academy Awards showrunner Raj Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan revealed on Tuesday morning the production team for next month’s Conan O’Brien-hosted kudoscast, and it boasts 100% retention of the writers and producers from 2025.
Last year’s Academy Awards—which were winningly hosted by O’Brien—delivered a total audience of 19.69 million viewers, marking a five-year high; in the Adults 18-49 demo, its 4.5 rating represented a whopping 19% YOY gain, and another five-year high. As a first-time Oscars host, O’Brien followed late-night peer Jimmy Kimmel’s four-year stint.
For this year’s Oscars, Rob Paine, Hamish Hamilton, and Taryn Hurd and Sarah Levine Hall all are returning as, respectively, co-executive producer, director, and producers.
Similarly, the writing team will once again include O’Brien plus Amberia Allen, José Arroyo, Josh Comers, Dan Cronin, Jessie Gaskell, Skyler Higley, Berkley Johnson, Ian Karmel, Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Carol Leifer, Jon Macks, Matt O’Brien, Agathe Panaretos, and Mike Sweeney.
The only name new to the mix for ’26 is former Conan writer Todd Levin.
Also returning to the production team are music director Michael Bearden, production designers Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley, lighting designers Bob Dickinson and Noah Mitz, and supervising choreographer Mandy Moore.
Kapoor, Mullan, Paine, Hamilton, Hurd, Hall, Buckley, Billingsley and Dickinson all have earned Emmy Awards for their work on previous Oscars broadcasts.
Jeff Ross and the aforementioned Mike Sweeney also are back as producers for a second straight year.
The 98th Oscars will be held Sunday, March 15, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The ceremony will be televised live on ABC, streamed live on Hulu, and aired live in more than 200 territories worldwide.
