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 Conan O’Brien is set to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Kennedy Center said in a press release Thursday.

Estonian Ambassador Kristjan Prikk and his wife Liis were honorary patrons at Choral Arts Society of Washington's annual holiday concert and gala on Dec. 16.

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,

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.

The comedian, podcaster and former late-night host will be the 26th recipient of the award from the Kennedy Center.

The comedian and former late-night talk show host will be given the Kennedy Center’s annual comedy honor at a ceremony in March.

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.

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.

"I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot," O'Brien said in a release from The Kennedy Center.

Comedian and host Conan O’Brien was named the newest recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy on Thursday. O’Brien, 61, has carved out an improbable decadeslong career arc,

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has revealed the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere Broadway Center Stage production of Schmigadoon! based on the Emmy Award–winning Apple Original series.