The 2026 Academy Awards presenters weren’t afraid of getting political.
“I should warn you tonight could get political, OK?” host Conan O’Brien said in his Sunday, March 15, monologue. “If that makes you uncomfortable there’s an alternate Oscars being hosted by Kid Rock. It’s at the Dave and Busters down the street, [and there are a] lot of tickets for that.”
Kid Rock notably hosted an alternative version of the Super Bowl LX halftime show in February, which was organized by conservative organization Turning Point USA after fan backlash to Bad Bunny’s headlining set during the NFL championship.
O’Brien further acknowledged that the Oscars was an “international event” taking place amid “very chaotic, frightening times.”
“If I can be serious for just a moment, everyone watching right now, around the world, is all too aware that these are very chaotic, frightening times,” he stated. “It’s at moments like these that I believe that the Oscars are particularly resonant — 31 countries across six continents are represented this evening, and every film we salute is the product of thousands of people speaking different languages, working hard to make something of beauty. We pay tribute tonight, not just to film, but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience and that rarest of qualities today — optimism.”
O’Brien didn’t stop touching on world issues later on in the show — and neither did his fellow presenters. Keep scrolling for more:
Conan O’BrienAt the beginning of Conan O’Brien’s monologue, he joked that the Oscars ceremony took place elsewhere than Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre.
“We’re coming to you live from the Has a Small Penis Theatre,” the comedian said, seemingly referring to president Donald Trump. “Let’s see him put his name in front of that!”
Earlier this year, Trump added his own name to the Kennedy Center named in honor of late president John F. Kennedy that sparked numerous backlash.
Moments later, O’Brien jokingly compared Hamnet to the political climate.
“In Hamnet, Shakespeare’s wife gives birth by herself in the woods,” he said of Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal’s drama. “Or what we call in America: Affordable health care.”
Jimmy Kimmel received a raucous applause when he stepped on stage to present Best Documentary Short.
“We hear a great deal,” he began, subsequently addressing the crowd. “They’re gonna cut down on your tickets for next year.”
He continued, “We hear a lot about courage at shows like this, but telling a story that could get you killed for telling it is real courage.”
Kimmel’s eponymous late night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was briefly pre-empted by ABC in 2025 after the host joked about Charlie Kirk’s death on his show and drew ire from the president. (Conservative commentator Kirk was shot and killed in September 2025. He was 31.)
“As you know, there are some countries whose leaders don’t support free speech. I’m not at liberty to say which. Let’s just leave it at North Korea and CBS,” Kimmel added on Sunday. “Fortunately, for all of us, there’s an international community of filmmakers dedicated to telling the truth, oftentimes at great risk, to make films that teach us, that call out injustice, and inspire us to take action.”
Kimmel also got in a dig at Donald’s wife, Melania Trump, for starring in her own self-titled documentary about life as First Lady.
“There are also documentaries where you walk around the White House trying on shoes,” Kimmel quipped, adding that Donald likely would “be mad” that Melania wasn’t nominated this year.
