Trending Now - Oscars 2026 Viewership Declines to 17.9 Million
WHO:
Conan O'Brien, host of the 98th Academy Awards
Paul Thomas Anderson, director of "One Battle After Another"
Michael B. Jordan, winner of Best Actor for "Sinners"
Jimmy Kimmel, presenter of awards in the documentary category
Richard Harbaugh, Bill Barnes, The Academy, Getty Images (photographers)
WHAT:
The 98th Academy Awards drew 17.9 million viewers on ABC and Hulu
This represents a 9% decline from 2025, which had 19.7 million viewers
The Oscars had its lowest ratings ever in 2021 with 10.4 million viewers
In 2022, the viewership was 13.73 million
The show delivered a 3.92 rating among adults 18-49, equivalent to about 5.34 million people
"One Battle After Another" won Best Picture and Best Director
"Sinners" won four awards, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan
The Oscars had a 14% decline in the 18-49 demographic from the previous year
The Oscars received over 181 million social media impressions, a 42% increase
WHERE:
The 98th Academy Awards took place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California
WHEN:
The 98th Academy Awards occurred on March 15th, 2026
The documentary "Melania" was released in January 2026
WHY:
The decline in viewership is part of a trend observed in other recent awards shows
HOW:
The Oscars were broadcast on ABC and Hulu
The show experienced audio glitches and technical issues during the telecast
The Oscars faced competition from a World Baseball Classic semifinal match between the United States and the Dominican Republic, which drew 7.37 million viewers
(UPDATED March 18, 2026 21:11 UTC)
The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O'Brien at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on March 15, 2026, attracted 17.9 million viewers, marking a 9% decline from last year. Michael B. Jordan took home the Best Actor award for his role in "Sinners," which won a total of four awards, while "One Battle After Another" was honored with both Best Picture and Best Director. Despite experiencing technical glitches during the broadcast and facing competition from a World Baseball Classic semifinal that drew 7.37 million viewers, the Oscars still generated over 181 million social media impressions, a significant increase of 42%.