Award Shows Have Found Their Groove Again

Us breaks down why awards season seems to be making a resurgence, from the numbers to relevance in the pop culture zeitgeist

- KATT PETTIBONE

Nikki Glaser and Conan O'Brien handled hosting duties so well they've both been asked to return next year.

After a difficult few years that saw a drop in ratings, disastrous hosting gigs and onstage mishaps (cue Will Smith, Chris Rock and the infamous slap heard around the world), award shows seem to be back on top.

The proof is in the numbers: The 97th Academy Awards garnered its biggest audience since 2020, while the 2025 Golden Globes, SAG and Critics Choice Awards all saw a significant uptick in viewership over recent years.

It's impossible not to attribute some of that success to streaming, as every major awards show has hopped on the livestream bandwagon. But finding a way around the continuous catastrophic fall of network TV is only part of the puzzle, as awards season has also managed to do something else surprising: It's regained its place in the pop culture zeitgeist.