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Oscars 2026 Viewership Dips to Lowest Since 2022
18 Mar
Summary
- 2026 Oscars saw 17.9 million viewers, a 9% drop from the previous year.
- YouTube will begin airing the Oscars in 2029 for four years.
- One Battle After Another won Best Picture, with six total wins.
The 2026 Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Conan O'Brien, drew an audience of 17.9 million viewers across broadcast and Hulu. This figure represents a nearly 9% decline from the previous year, making it the lowest viewership since 2022. The telecast, which concluded slightly over three hours, faced potential viewer fatigue due to its later-than-usual scheduling.
Despite efforts to boost viewership, including simulcasting on ABC and Hulu, the Oscars saw a dip. "One Battle After Another" emerged as the night's biggest winner, taking home the Best Picture award and a total of six Oscars. Other notable wins included "Sinners," which secured four awards.
A significant transition is on the horizon for the Academy Awards, as YouTube is slated to begin airing the ceremony from 2029 through 2033. This move follows the 100th Oscars and marks the end of a decades-long run for the show on ABC.
