The 2026 Academy Awards presenters weren’t afraid of getting political.
“I ought to warn you tonight might get political, OK?” host Conan O’Brien mentioned in his Sunday, March 15, monologue. “If that makes you uncomfortable there’s an alternate Oscars being hosted by Child Rock. It’s on the Dave and Busters down the road, (and there are a) lot of tickets for that.”
Child Rock notably hosted another model of the Tremendous Bowl LX halftime present in February, which was organized by conservative group Turning Level USA after fan backlash to Unhealthy Bunny’s headlining set throughout the NFL championship.
O’Brien additional acknowledged that the Oscars was an “worldwide occasion” happening amid “very chaotic, scary occasions.”
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“If I might be critical for only a second, everybody watching proper now, around the globe, is all too conscious that these are very chaotic, scary occasions,” he acknowledged. “It’s at moments like these that I imagine that the Oscars are notably resonant — 31 international locations throughout six continents are represented this night, and each movie we salute is the product of 1000’s of individuals talking totally different languages, working laborious to make one thing of magnificence. We pay tribute tonight, not simply to movie, however to the beliefs of worldwide artistry, collaboration, endurance, resilience and that rarest of qualities immediately — optimism.”
O’Brien didn’t cease pertaining to world points in a while within the present — and neither did his fellow presenters. Preserve scrolling for extra:
Conan O’Brien
Initially of Conan O’Brien’s monologue, he joked that the Oscars ceremony passed off elsewhere than Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre.
“We’re coming to you reside from the Has a Small Penis Theatre,” the comic mentioned, seemingly referring to president Donald Trump. “Let’s see him put his title in entrance of that!”
Earlier this 12 months, Trump added his personal title to the Kennedy Heart named in honor of late president John F. Kennedy that sparked quite a few backlash.
Moments later, O’Brien jokingly in contrast Hamnet to the political local weather.
“In HamnetShakespeare’s spouse offers start by herself within the woods,” he mentioned of Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal’s drama. “Or what we name in America: Reasonably priced well being care.”
Conan O’Brien has proved to be the king of awards exhibits. O’Brien has hosted many award ceremonies by means of the years, together with the 2025 Academy Awards. “There’s numerous totally different components of (getting ready for the Oscars), and also you begin eager about totally different bits and what might (you) do for pre-tapes (or) what sort of manufacturing (…)
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel obtained a raucous applause when he stepped on stage to current Finest Documentary Quick.
“We hear an ideal deal,” he started, subsequently addressing the group. “They’re gonna lower down in your tickets for subsequent 12 months.”
He continued, “We hear loads about braveness at exhibits like this, however telling a narrative that might get you killed for telling it’s actual braveness.”
Kimmel’s eponymous late night time present, Jimmy Kimmel Stay!, was briefly pre-empted by ABC in 2025 after the host joked about Charlie Kirk’s dying on his present and drew ire from the president. (Conservative commentator Kirk was shot and killed in September 2025. He was 31.)
“As you realize, there are some international locations whose leaders don’t assist free speech. I’m not at liberty to say which. Let’s simply go away it at North Korea and CBS,” Kimmel added on Sunday. “Fortuitously, for all of us, there’s a global neighborhood of filmmakers devoted to telling the reality, oftentimes at nice danger, to make movies that educate us, that decision out injustice, and encourage us to take motion.”
Kimmel additionally obtained in a dig at Donald’s spouse, Melania Trumpfor starring in her personal self-titled documentary about life as First Girl.
“There are additionally documentaries the place you stroll across the White Home attempting on sneakers,” Kimmel quipped, including that Donald probably would “be mad” that Melania wasn’t nominated this 12 months.