The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O'Brien, saw a 9% decline in viewership compared to last year, according to figures released by The Walt Disney Co. Approximately 17.9 million viewers tuned in on Sunday, down from 19.7 million for O'Brien's inaugural hosting stint in 2025.
The drop was more pronounced among the key 18-49 demographic, which fell by 14%. Despite the decline, the Oscars remain the most-watched primetime entertainment programme of the 2025-2026 season, outperforming the Golden Globes, which drew 8.7 million viewers in January.
This year's ceremony featured a showdown between two Warner Bros. films, with 'One Battle After Another' winning best picture and best director. Michael B. Jordan won best actor for 'Sinners', which set a record for most nominations (16) and most losses (12) by a single film.
While broadcast ratings dipped, digital engagement surged. Social impressions during primetime rose by 42%, and Academy platforms recorded over 129 million video views throughout the night.
The Oscars hit an all-time low of 10.4 million viewers in 2021 during the pandemic, compared to its 1990s peak of around 45 million. The highest viewership was in 1998, when 'Titanic' won best picture, attracting 57.2 million viewers. From 2029, the ceremony will move to YouTube, making broadcast ratings obsolete.
