The audience for the 98th Oscars ceremony on Sunday fell by 9% to 17.9 million viewers from 19.7 million in 2025, reaching its lowest level since 2022. Disney, owner of the channel that broadcasts the gala, said in a statement on Tuesday that this year's rating averaged 3.92 among adults aged 18 to 49, which is also a lower figure than last year's 4.54. This year's figure is the lowest in four years, since 2022 when about 16.6 million people watched the live broadcast. Despite this year's decline, the ceremony dominated the Sunday by ranking as the most-watched content in all key demographic groups, according to the company's statement. Additionally, on social media, the gala saw a 42.4% increase in impressions, reaching over 184 million, while the Academy's platforms grew to 21.6 million followers, up from 19.7 million the previous year, with over 129 million video views during the broadcast. Likewise, the Oscars were the most discussed topic globally on X throughout the broadcast. The ceremony also far outperformed this year's Golden Globes, held on January 11, doubling its total audience (+106%, compared to 8.66 million) and its performance in the 18-49 age group (+124%, compared to a 1.75 rating).
