Oscars 2026 Ratings Drop 9% Despite Strong Digital Buzz

The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, recorded a drop in television ratings despite strong performance in digital engagement. According to The Walt Disney Company, around 17.9 million viewers watched the ceremony live on ABC and via Hulu.

This marks a 9% decline compared to last year’s 19.7 million viewers. The show also saw a sharper fall of 14% among adults aged 18–49, a key audience group for advertisers.

The ceremony featured a strong competition between two Warner Bros. films — One Battle After Another and Sinners. One Battle After Another won Best Picture and Best Director, while Michael B. Jordan took home Best Actor for Sinners.

Sinners made history by receiving 16 nominations, the highest ever for a single film. However, it also set a record for the most losses, with 12 categories missed.

Despite the drop in TV viewership, the Oscars remained the No. 1 primetime entertainment telecast of the 2025–2026 season. In comparison, the Golden Globe Awards attracted 8.7 million viewers earlier this year, which was also down by 7% from the previous year.

Digital engagement for the Oscars showed strong growth. Social media impressions increased by more than 42%, and the Academy recorded over 129 million video views across its platforms during the event.

The Oscars have seen major changes in viewership trends over the years. The lowest ratings were recorded in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 10.4 million viewers. At its peak in 1998, when Titanic won Best Picture, the ceremony attracted 57.2 million viewers.

Looking ahead, broadcast ratings will no longer define the show’s success. Starting from its 101st edition in 2029, the Oscars will move to YouTube, marking a major shift towards digital-first viewing.