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

Viewership declined across all age demographics. Viewers between ages 18-34 and 25-54 saw the biggest decline, with a 13% drop from 2025. The program also saw an 11% drop in viewers 55 and above. 

"Fortunately for all of us, there's an international community of filmmakers dedicated to telling the truth, oftentimes at great risk, to make films that teach us, that call out injustice, that inspire us to take action," he said. 

"And there are also documentaries where you walk around the White House trying on shoes," Kimmel added as he presented the awards for Best Documentary Short Film and Best Documentary Feature at the Oscars.

He also mocked the president: "Oh, man, is he going to be mad his wife wasn't nominated for this."

The first lady's documentary was released in January, and therefore would not have been eligible for this year's awards.