Award shows have some of the biggest moments in entertainment each year, bringing audiences together to celebrate the best in film, television, and music. Events like the Golden Globes, Grammys, and Academy Awards capture the attention of millions, creating shared viewing experiences filled with memorable speeches, standout performances, and headline-making moments.
For Canadian audiences, these events offer more than just a night of red carpets and trophies. They’re a chance to connect with the biggest cultural moments in entertainment, follow the artists and films everyone is talking about, and celebrate when Canadian talent is recognized on a world stage.
This blog goes beyond the headlines and into the audience data behind these events. By examining viewing trends and audience composition, we can better understand how award shows are performing in Canada and what they reveal about shifting viewer behaviours across regions and age groups.
2026 Golden Globe Awards
The Golden Globes kicked off the awards season in January, bringing together many of the biggest names in film and television for a night that helped set the tone for the months ahead. Hosted by Nikki Glaser, the ceremony delivered a mix of major wins, memorable speeches, and defining moments. Several standout films and television series took home top honours, while Canadian talent also had moments in the spotlight — including a big win for Seth Rogen, who earned Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for The Studio.
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The 2026 Golden Globes reached 3.7 million Canadians, with an average audience of 1.5 million viewers, representing a 13% increase compared to last year.
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The broadcast skewed more female, with 58% of the audience being women. The Vancouver/Victoria market stood out with the highest female skew of any market at nearly 65%.
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Younger viewers also made up a notable share of the audience, with one in four viewers under the age of 35. In Montreal Franco, the show resonated even more strongly with younger audiences, where almost half of viewers were adults 18–34.
2026 Grammy Awards
The 68th Grammy Awards featured a standout night of performances and major wins in music, with top honours going to artists like Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, and Billie Eilish. Canadian talent also had a presence, including Justin Bieber’s return to the stage and continued recognition for Joni Mitchell, highlighting Canada’s lasting impact on the music industry.
2026 Academy Awards
The 98th Academy Awards, celebrating the best films of the past year, featured major wins for One Battle After Another, which took home Best Picture. Acting honours went to Michael B. Jordan for Sinners and Jessie Buckley for Hamnet. Canadian talent was also recognized, including Korean-Canadian filmmaker Maggie Kang, who won Best Animated Feature for KPop Demon Hunters, highlighting Canada’s continued presence among the industry’s top creative contributors.
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The Academy Awards remained the most-watched awards show of the year, reaching 6.6 million Canadians with an average audience of 2.8 million viewers, though this was down compared to last year.
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The audience skewed more female overall (57%), continuing the trend seen with many entertainment award shows.
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However, the Vancouver/Victoria market showed a slightly different pattern, skewing more male (51%) compared to the national audience.
Our annual Hot Topic report reveals more details on Award Shows including trending analysis and audience profiles for all three award shows where you can choose from a handful of different demos and markets. Produced using our API, Conex, and InstarTV, the full report is available to our TV PPM subscribers on the Lens platform.
Related blog: TV viewing trends in Canada
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