Montclair Film brings together late-night legends Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert for a night fans will talk about for years.NH
Montclair Film just announced an unmissable evening of comedy and conversation: Conan O’Brien will join Stephen Colbert live on stage at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark on Sunday, December 7.
The announcement comes as Montclair Film prepares to open its 14th annual Montclair Film Festival, running this weekend from October 17 through 26.
For over a decade, Montclair Film has been delighting audiences with its Conversation series, hosted by Stephen Colbert. This December, the series unites two late-night legends for a conversation celebrating his groundbreaking career as one of comedy’s sharpest minds.
From Late-Night Legend to Global Comedy Icon
O’Brien got his start in comedy as a two-time president of “The Harvard Lampoon.” He went on to write and produce for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons” before taking over as host of NBC’s “Late Night” in 1993.
Since then, he’s earned six Emmy Awards, seven Writers Guild Awards and a People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Television Host.” He also received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
O’Brien has hosted the Emmys twice and performed at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner for two presidents. He also starred in the hit documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop,” which chronicled his sold-out comedy tour. In 2018, he hit the road again for a second live tour. Most recently, he hosted the 97th Academy Awards in 2025 and is set to return for the 98th in 2026.
After wrapping his 11-year run on TBS’s “CONAN” in 2021—capping an incredible 28 years in late-night—O’Brien has continued to keep fans laughing worldwide. His Emmy-winning travel series “CONAN Without Borders” has taken him to 13 countries. His podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” has surpassed 700 million downloads since its 2018 debut.
He’s now filming season three of his Emmy-winning Max series “Conan O’Brien Must Go” and recently appeared in Mary Bronstein’s A24 feature “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
“We are incredibly grateful to Conan O’Brien for his support of our mission at Montclair Film,” said Montclair Film Artistic Director Tom Hall. “Throughout his legendary career, Conan’s work has delighted audiences across the globe, and we look forward to a terrific evening when he joins Stephen Colbert for what is sure to be a hilarious conversation. ”
Tickets for An Evening With Conan O’Brien go on sale to Montclair Film and NJPAC members on Wednesday, October 15, at 10 a.m.. They open to the general public on Friday, October 17, at 10 a.m. You can purchase them at njpac.org and ticketmaster.com. You can also purchase them by phone at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722) or in person at the NJPAC Box Office.
All proceeds will benefit Montclair Film. Proceeds will also support NJPAC’s arts education programs.
