Conan O'Brien's Hilarious Monologue at the 2026 Oscars

A Playful Start to the Oscars 2026

Oscars 2026: The opening monologue of the 98th Academy Awards featured host Conan O'Brien, who delivered a witty and entertaining introduction, taking jabs at various Hollywood personalities, including Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet. This marked O'Brien's second time hosting the event, and he quickly addressed the controversies surrounding the awards season and notable pop-culture events.

One of his main targets was Chalamet, whose recent comments about ballet and opera had sparked discussions among different communities leading up to the event. O'Brien humorously remarked, “Security is very tight tonight,” adding, “There’s concerns about attacks from the ballet and opera communities.” He then turned to Chalamet in the audience, quipping, “They’re just mad you left out jazz.” This line elicited laughter from the audience, and cameras captured Chalamet enjoying the moment.

O'Brien's joke alluded to a recent incident where Chalamet faced criticism for suggesting that traditional art forms like ballet and opera sometimes persist even when they lose audience interest. This comment went viral, attracting backlash from artists who defended the enduring relevance of these art forms. Chalamet, nominated for his role in Marty Supreme, was seen laughing at O'Brien's quip.

Continuing with his signature roast-style humor, O'Brien also poked fun at Hollywood executives and media moguls, including a jab at Ted Sarandos, Netflix's co-CEO. He humorously suggested that this might be Sarandos’ “first time in a theatre,” mimicking the executive's viewpoint by saying, “Why are they all together enjoying themselves? They should be home alone, where I can monetize it.” This joke resonated with the audience, especially in a year marked by discussions about theatrical releases versus streaming.

O'Brien hinted at a potential political angle for the ceremony, joking, “If that makes you uncomfortable, there’s an alternate Oscars hosted by Kid Rock. It’s at the Dave & Buster’s down the street.” He kicked off the ceremony with a pre-recorded sketch where he appeared as Aunt Gladys from the horror film Weapons, interrupting scenes from several Best Picture nominees while being pursued by creepy children. The video transitioned to a live moment at the Dolby Theatre, culminating in O'Brien's entrance on stage in a tuxedo.