Oscars 2026 viewership drops 9% on ABC, Hulu, marking first decline since 2021

The Oscars viewership declined this year, according to data from Nielsen, marking its first major drop since 2021.

The 98th Academy Awards drew 17.9 million viewers on ABC and Hulu, according to Nielsen, which is about a 9% drop from last year.

The awards show drew 19.7 million viewers in 2025.

The Oscars had its lowest ratings ever in 2021 at 10.4 million viewers. In 2022, the Hollywood event saw a slight uptick, drawing 13.73 million viewers.

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