Conan O’Brien has been selected by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to receive the 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Comedian and host Conan O’Brien is the newest recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy

The Kennedy Center announced Thursday that Conan O’Brien is the 26th recipient of its Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The 61-year-old writer, podcaster and former late-night host will accept the award March 23 — a few weeks after he hosts the Oscars — in the center’s 2,

The former late-night host joins the ranks of a celebrated group including Kevin Hart, Jon Stewart, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was first given to comedian Richard Pryor in 1998. Over the years, it’s been handed out to everyone from Carl Reiner and Neil Simon to Steve Martin, Bill Murray, Billy Crystal, Tina Fey, and Dave Chapelle. O’Brien made appearances in the past to honor Lorne Michaels, Will Ferrell, and Adam Sandler.

Conan O’Brien is the latest comedian to be feted at the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The former host of Conan and The Tonight Show will receive the award on March 23 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Before hosting this year’s Oscars, comedian Conan O’Brien will accept his own big award. The Emmy Award winner, set to host the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, will be honored with the 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present the 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Conan O’Brien on March 23, 2025, in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The Prize, which is named to honor one of the world’s greatest humorists,