Oscars 2026: Viewership Down but Social Impressions Soar

The 2026 Oscars telecast attracted 17.9 million U.S. viewers, marking a 9% decline from the previous year and the lowest since 2022, according to Nielsen data released on Tuesday by ABC. The show aired on ABC and the streaming platform Hulu, both owned by Walt Disney.

This year's best picture award went to the dark comedy thriller 'One Battle After Another' during a ceremony spanning over three hours. Comedian Conan O'Brien hosted the event for the second consecutive year. Declining viewership for awards shows continues as audiences transition to streaming and social media.

Despite lower TV ratings, ABC reported a 42% increase in social media impressions for the Oscars over 2025, reaching over 184 million. The highest-rated Academy Awards telecast occurred in 1998 when 'Titanic' dominated the stage, attracting more than 57 million viewers. Planning for a future shift, the Oscars will move from ABC to YouTube in 2029.