The 98th edition of the Academy Awards recorded a noticeable drop in television viewership, with new ratings showing a decline of around 9 percent compared to the previous year. The ceremony, broadcast in the United States on ABC, attracted approximately 17.9 million viewers, down from 19.7 million in 2025.
Organised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Oscars remain one of Hollywood’s most prestigious events. However, the latest figures highlight an ongoing trend of declining traditional TV audiences, especially when compared to the 1990s when viewership regularly exceeded 50 million. The highest recorded audience came in 1998, when around 57 million viewers tuned in.
Industry experts suggest that the dip in numbers this year may be linked to the lack of major surprises or controversies during the ceremony. With most major winners already predicted ahead of the event, audience excitement appeared lower than usual.
Among the top winners, One Battle After Another emerged as the biggest success of the night, securing six awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson. Another major contender, Sinners, also performed strongly, winning four awards after leading the nominations list.
The Best Actor category delivered one of the few unexpected moments, with Michael B. Jordan winning for his role in Sinners, beating out strong competition including Timothée Chalamet. Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley took home the Best Actress award for her performance in Hamnet.
The ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, maintained a relatively controversy free tone, avoiding the political debates and viral moments that have previously driven higher engagement.
Another factor influencing the decline is the continued shift in audience habits, with more viewers turning to streaming platforms. The Oscars are currently also available on Hulu, and future plans indicate a larger digital transition. From 2029, the ceremony is expected to stream globally on YouTube, reflecting changing viewer preferences.
While the Oscars remain a major cultural event, the latest ratings suggest that maintaining audience engagement will continue to be a challenge in an evolving media landscape.
