The 98th Academy Awards, set for Sunday, will see Conan O’Brien return as host, feature a new casting award, and include a poignant in memoriam segment honoring a remarkable number of cinema legends. With ratings on the rise and a bold move to YouTube planned for 2029, the Academy is balancing tradition with innovation.
The Return of Conan O’Brien
Conan O’Brien will once again take the stage as host of the 98th Academy Awards, a decision confirmed by AP News. The ceremony, set for Sunday, promises his signature blend of wit and warmth as the Academy celebrates cinematic achievements. The top nominees, “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another,” have generated significant buzz and multiple nominations, setting the stage for a night of high artistic achievement. Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor expressed her emotional connection to this year’s films: “It’s always about the movies and the movies this year? They’re all the things. There are escapist movies, big commercial movies, there are movies that are really brave and really bold in their storytelling … I get really emotional when I talk about the quality of this year’s films.”
New Award, Intimate Design, and a Runtime Goal
The Academy has also started planning the show earlier in recent years, allowing more time to develop concepts and avoid last-minute rushes. “It gives us time to talk through so many things pre-nominations. So once the nominations happen, we can start focusing on what that means for the show,” CEO Bill Kramer said. “There’s not a lot of last-minute panicking over anything.” This early start enabled the production team to craft an intimate and warm aesthetic that Taylor calls “a bit of a departure.”
Introducing a new Oscar for casting, the ceremony will highlight the essential work of casting directors with a “gorgeous moment” on stage. Production design, from the set to the red carpet, has been meticulously planned for months. Despite the added category, producers aim to keep the broadcast to three-and-a-half hours or less. “It’s a lot of moving pieces, but it’s totally doable,” Kramer said. Taylor compared awards shows to movies: “Sometimes a long film can feel like watching paint dry. Other times, it flies by. We really focus on making the show as dynamic and emotionally connecting as possible.” The team remains agile; last year’s opener featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande was a late addition that became a highlight.
An In Memoriam for the Ages
The in memoriam segment will honor a staggering array of cinema legends lost over the past year, including:
- Robert Redford
- Diane Keaton
- Rob Reiner
- Catherine O’Hara
- Robert Duvall
- Val Kilmer
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner
- James Van Der Beek
- Claudia Cardinale
Kramer promised the tribute will be “robust and beautiful and very, very moving,” though specifics remain under wraps. Rumors suggest a potential reunion of Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal to honor Reiner, but the Academy is not confirming. “Obviously we’re paying special attention to the in memoriam this year,” Kramer said. “We won’t give away any secrets. You’ll have to tune in.” An extended version will be available online.
Ratings Rebound and Youth Appeal
Oscars viewership has gradually recovered since its 2021 nadir. Numbers climbed from 19.5 million in 2024 to 19.7 million in 2025 AP News, with the 18-49 demographic showing strong growth. This surge is largely driven by mobile and laptop streaming, amplified by the ceremony’s first live stream on Hulu in 2025. Partnerships with digital creators like Amelia Dimoldenberg have helped the Academy connect with younger audiences in an “Academy appropriate” manner. “Our audiences are growing,” Kramer noted. “And young people are watching the show in ways that we’ve not seen before and that’s really great.”
The YouTube Future and the 100th Oscars
Looking ahead, the Academy is planning the 100th Oscars in 2028. But the biggest shift comes in 2029, when the ceremony will move from traditional broadcast to YouTube AP News. “YouTube signals our desire to be a more global organization that reaches more audiences around the world,” Kramer explained. This move is part of a broader initiative to establish a year-round cinema hub on YouTube, featuring the SciTech Awards, museum content, and digitized archives developed with Google Arts and Culture.
With a host renowned for his comedic edge, a ceremony that honors both beloved traditions and bold innovations, and a daring digital transition, the 98th Oscars stands as a testament to the Academy’s adaptability. As Taylor emotionally noted, “It’s always about the movies,” and this year’s cinematic offerings have been truly exceptional. The stage is set for a night that balances heartfelt remembrance with forward-looking celebration.
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