Julia Stoll
Research expert covering TV and video media
Academy Awards - statistics & facts
The awards season is over! On March 15, 2026, the 98th Academy Awards ceremony marked the culmination of a frantic race for actors and studios alike.While the results sometimes matched the expectations of experts, betting markets, and other predictions, such as the crowning of "One Battle After Another" as Best Picture, they also produced some surprises. Despite receiving nine nominations, the table tennis drama "Marty Supreme" failed to secure a single win, ranking among the most notable Oscar losses on record. What do the Oscars and their winners have to say about the current state of the film industry?
Cinema’s biggest night
The Academy Awards are one of many ceremonies celebrating and rewarding the year’s biggest cinematic achievements, and they have managed to maintain their position as the most influential one. Yet, while the viewership had been increasing for four years in a row, the number slightly fell again in 2026 to just under 18 million. Moreover, TV ratings were down, averaging 3.92 among the 18- to 49-year-olds. However, the Oscars remained the most-watched and highest-rated movie award shows of the season.
