Oscars 2026: Conan O’Brien hosts the ceremony, takes opening shots at AI and Timothée Chalamet

“I am Conan O’Brien and I am honored to be the last human host of the Academy Awards,” O’Brien said after taking the stage for the 98th edition of the ceremony.

Conan O’Brien opened his second Oscars with jokes about artificial intelligence and Timothée Chalamet’s takes on the fine arts.

“I am Conan O’Brien and I am honored to be the last human host of the Academy Awards,” O’Brien said after taking the stage for the ABC telecast at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday night for the 98th edition of the ceremony. “Next year it’s going to be a Waymo in a tux.”

O'Brien then told the audience that security was high at this year's Oscars.

“I hear there are concerns about attacks form both the opera and ballet communities,” the host said, getting a big laugh as the camera cut to a laughing Chalamet, the best actor nominee whose comments on the art forms during the run-up to the show became fodder for the cultural discourse.

“It’s his first time in a theater!” O'Brien said.

A pre-recorded opening bit had O’Brien wearing Amy Madigan’s caked-on Aunt Gladys make-up fromWeapons, and showed him being chased by angry kids as she was in the film in the role that won her best supporting actress just a few minutes later.