The 98th Academy Awards on ABC and Hulu drew 17.86 million viewers, marking a 9% decline from 19.7 million in 2025 and the lowest since 2022. Despite the drop, it remained the top primetime entertainment program of the 2025-2026 season. Social media engagement rose significantly.
The 98th annual Academy Awards, held on March 15, 2026, and hosted by Conan O’Brien for his second consecutive year, averaged 17.86 million viewers across ABC and Hulu. This figure represents a 9% decrease from the previous year's 19.7 million, which had been a five-year high. It is the least-watched Oscars telecast since 2022's 16.6 million viewers, following a growth trend from 10.4 million in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to 18.8 million in 2023 and 19.5 million in 2024. Among adults 18-49, the rating was 3.92, down from 4.54 last year but up from 3.82 in 2024, according to Nielsen’s big data plus panel ratings. The ceremony ranked as the No. 1 primetime entertainment telecast of the 2025-2026 season and outperformed other awards shows, doubling the Golden Globes' 8.66 million viewers and exceeding the Grammys' 14.4 million. Social impressions increased 42.4% to 184,314,370, with Academy platforms reaching 21.6 million interactions versus 19.7 million last year, including 129 million video views. The telecast started at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, aiding retention despite nearing record length. Winners included Paul Thomas Anderson’s 'One Battle After Another' with six Oscars, such as best picture and director, and 'Sinners' with four, featuring Michael B. Jordan’s best actor win for his dual role as Smoke and Stack. Jessie Buckley won best actress for 'Hamnet'. Walt Disney Television’s Rob Mills stated O’Brien could host again if interested. Disney holds broadcast rights through 2028, shifting to YouTube in 2029.