Golden Globes viewership Declines again

The 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, held on Sunday, January 11, 2026, saw a decline in traditional television viewership even as the ceremony dominated social media conversations. According to Nielsen data, the broadcast on CBS averaged 8.66 million viewers, a nearly 7% drop from the 9.3 million who tuned in the previous year.

Despite the dip in live TV ratings, organizers emphasized a “digital triumph,” with the show reaching a total of 18 million viewers when accounting for streaming on Paramount+ and subsequent social media engagement.

A Night of Satire and Surprises

Host Nikki Glaser returned for her second consecutive year, delivering a blistering opening monologue that has already garnered over 14 million views on social media.

• The Zinger of the Night: Glaser took a sharp jab at the U.S. Department of Justice, jokingly suggesting they deserved a “Best Editing” award for their handling of the redacted Jeffrey Epstein files.
• The Competition: The ceremony faced a significant ratings hurdle, airing opposite a high-stakes NFL playoff game between the Chargers and the Patriots, which drew a massive audience of nearly 29 million viewers.

Big Winners and Record-Breaking Moments

The evening belonged to Paul Thomas Anderson, whose contemporary action satire One Battle After Another took home four major awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Timothée Chalamet made history as the youngest actor ever to win Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. During his acceptance speech, he shared a rare personal moment by publicly thanking his partner of three years, Kylie Jenner, calling her his “foundation.”

The Road to the Oscars

While the television audience remains a fraction of the 18.4 million seen in the pre-pandemic year of 2020, the Golden Globes have successfully re-established themselves as a vital stop in the awards circuit. With Anderson’s sweep and Chalamet’s momentum, all eyes now turn to the 98th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 15, 2026.