Grammys Ratings Crash: Young Viewers Bail
The 2026 Grammy Awards pulled in noticeably fewer viewers. The show averaged about 14 million viewers, down roughly 11% from last year and about 20% from 2024. Those are not small dips. They’re a message.
Young people led the exodus. Adults 18-34 fell to about 2 million viewers, a 20% drop from the previous year. The advertiser-friendly 25-54 demo slid too — from 5.7 million to 5 million, a 13% decline. Even the 18-49 group dropped around 19%, and viewers 55 and older were down near 10%.
Those numbers come as the Grammys prepare to leave CBS after 54 years and move to Disney networks and streaming in 2027. It couldn’t come at a stranger time. The 2026 telecast was stacked with political messaging — performers and presenters wearing “ICE OUT” pins, and on-stage comments aimed at the Trump administration and ICE. That kind of tone doesn’t land with everyone.
There used to be a time when awards shows felt like a national event. People tuned in to celebrate music. Now the show often becomes a platform for political takes. Many viewers simply turn the channel or stream something else.
Some of the social reaction was blunt. Here are two tweets that summed up the sentiment for many viewers:
GRAMMYS ratings down 9% because NOBODY cares what celebrities think about Politics. If you don’t believe me ask Presidents Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) February 3, 2026
In an era where ratings are up for almost everything, the political lecture Grammys lost a million viewers from year to year
Can’t wait to see how much lower it can get! https://t.co/HmYBAN36fn
— Ian Miller (@ianmSC) February 3, 2026
GRAMMYS ratings down 9% because NOBODY cares what celebrities think about Politics. If you don’t believe me ask Presidents Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) February 3, 2026
In an era where ratings are up for almost everything, the political lecture Grammys lost a million viewers from year to year
Can’t wait to see how much lower it can get! https://t.co/HmYBAN36fn
— Ian Miller (@ianmSC) February 3, 2026
Numbers don’t lie: fewer people are tuning in. Whether networks shift formats, steer clear of politics during entertainment shows, or accept smaller audiences, the industry will have to adapt. For now, the takeaway is simple — the Grammys’ mix of awards and political commentary cost it viewers, and younger audiences walked away first.