The 98th Academy Awards once again showed that major cultural moments now unfold far beyond traditional television broadcasts, with watch parties generating over 1.2 million Hours Watched on Twitch and YouTube combined. While official partners still hold the rights, digital platforms have become the primary engagement hubs, as evidenced by YouTube capturing nearly 80% of the total live-streaming audience during the event.
Top-tier streamers hosted large Oscars 2026 watch parties, reacting to the ceremony in real time, discussing the winners with their audiences, and turning each announcement into a shared live experience. In this article, Streams Charts breaks down the viewership statistics behind these watch parties and examines how creators helped shape the Oscars’ online audience.
How many viewers watched the Oscars 2026 on livestreaming platforms?
Even though streamers were unable to freely broadcast the ceremony itself, numerous watch parties generated a combined total of over 1.2 million Hours Watched. YouTube viewers were particularly engaged, with nearly 80% of the total Oscars 2026 livestreaming audience tuning in on that platform.
Among Twitch streamers, the Brazilian creator Rafael “Cellbit” Lange emerged as the leader in Hours Watched during his Oscars-themed broadcast. Overall, the Portuguese-speaking audience showed exceptional engagement with this year’s Academy Awards coverage. A major driving factor was actor Wagner Moura, who made history as the first Brazilian ever nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Secret Agent (O Agente Secreto).
Although Moura entered the ceremony as a frontrunner following his victories at the Golden Globes and the Cannes Film Festival, the Oscar for Best Actor ultimately went to Michael B. Jordan for his performance in Sinners.
Driven by the high engagement of Brazilian viewers, Wagner Moura became the most-mentioned celebrity of the ceremony, with his name appearing more frequently in streaming chats than any other attendee. Conan O’Brien, the ceremony’s host, followed in second place. Emma Stone emerged as the most-discussed actress, while Paul Thomas Anderson was the only director to break into the top 10 most-mentioned list.
Most discussed movies at Oscars 2026 ceremony
Regarding the films, “Sinners” emerged as the most-mentioned title during the Oscars 2026 ceremony. As we previously reported, this picture was also the most discussed in the lead-up to the event. This sustained interest was driven by several factors, including highly effective promotional campaigns and unexpected leaks regarding the film's record-breaking number of nominations.
Mentions of the film Sinners in streaming chats peaked at nearly 3,000 messages. At the same time, the animated feature K-Pop Demon Hunters saw a noticeable spike in discussion after winning Best Original Song for the track Golden, which quickly reignited viewer interest in the film.
Who swept the Oscars 2026?
The 98th Academy Awards will be remembered as the night "One Battle After Another" solidified its place in cinematic history. Emerging as the evening’s biggest winner, Paul Thomas Anderson’s political thriller took home six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and the inaugural award for Best Casting.
In contrast, the results for Ryan Coogler’s "Sinners" were a mix of historic triumphs and missed opportunities. Despite entering the night with a record-breaking 16 nominations, the film secured only four awards. Other films like "Marty Supreme" and "The Secret Agent" also struggled, leaving the theater empty-handed despite multiple nods.
As the digital dust settles, the 2026 Oscars proved that even a record number of nominations doesn't guarantee a sweep, leaving the streaming community with plenty of debated 'snubs' to discuss. However, the true story of the night lies in the event's massive digital footprint. With over 1.2 million hours watched via unofficial watch parties, the Academy is gaining invaluable momentum in the live-streaming space. This organic engagement serves as a perfect trial run for the ceremony’s future: starting in 2029, the Oscars will move exclusively to YouTube, ending its decades-long run on traditional TV. By then, the 'second screen' experience pioneered by today’s creators will likely become the main stage, proving that the Academy’s shift to a digital-first global broadcast is not just timely, but essential for staying culturally relevant.
