NEW YORK - February 26, 2026 - An estimated 32.6 million people watched President Donald J. Trump deliver the 2026 State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24, according to Nielsen. While coverage varied by network, 15 networks televised the address from approximately 9:12 p.m. ET 10:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday. A full list of reported networks can be referenced in the viewership summary table below.
Please note: Beginning September 1, 2025, television program viewership is reported based on Nielsen's Big Data Panel methodology.
2026 State of the Union Address
Viewership Across TV Networks
Event Date: February 24, 2026
Number of Viewers Average Audience Rating
Persons 2 32,644,000 10.2
Households 23,189,000 18.1
Persons 18-34 2,047,000 2.8
Persons 35-54 5,960,000 7.1
Persons 55 23,622,000 23.1
Source: Nielsen Big Data Panel. NNTV, Live SameDay.
Data in this table is inclusive of broadcast and cable networks that aired the event, in addition to PBS. Streaming simulcasts also contributed where available. 2026 reported TV networks include: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, EstrellaTV, Telemundo, Univision, PBS, CNN, CNN en Espanol, FOX Business, FOX News Channel, MS NOW, Newsmax, NewsNation.
Audience estimates are inclusive of out-of-home viewing for all reported networks except Newsmax, NewsNation and PBS, which do not include out-of-home contributions.
Audience projections are rounded to the nearest thousand (000).
State of the Union Historical Viewership
DATETOTAL VIEWERSHHLD RATINGNETWORKSPRESIDENT
2/24/26 32,644,000 18.1 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Estrella, TEL, UNI, PBS, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC, MS NOW, Newsmax, NewsNation Trump
3/4/2025* 36,630,000 20.0 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Merit Street, TEL, UNI, PBS, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC, MSNBC, Newsmax, NewsNation Trump
3/7/2024 32,232,000 18.5 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, TEL, UNI, PBS, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC, MSNBC, Newsmax, NewsNation, Biden
2/7/2023 27,312,000 16.1 ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, TEL, UNI, NBCLX, PBS, CNBC, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC, MSNBC, Newsmax, NewsNation Biden
3/1/2022 38,197,000 22.4 ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, TEL, UNI, NBCLX, PBS, Black News Channel, CNBC, CNN, CNNe, FOXNC, MSNBC, Newsmax, NewsNation Biden
4/28/2021* 26,936,000 16.5 ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, TEL, UNI, PBS, CNBC, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC, MSNBC, Newsmax, NewsNation and Newsy Biden
2/4/2020 37,173,000 22.7 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, PBS, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC and MSNBC Trump
2/5/2019 46,789,000 28.0 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo, Univision, PBS, CNN, CNNe, FBN, FOXNC and MSNBC Trump
1/30/2018 45,551,000 26.9 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Estrella, Telemundo, Univision, CNN, FBN, FOX News, MSNBC and PBS Trump
2/28/2017* 47,741,000 28.7 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, UNI, PBS, CNN, FBN Net, FOXNC, MSNBC, and NBC Universo Trump
1/12/2016 31,334,349 19.6 ABC, Al Jazeera America, Azteca, CBS, CNN, FOX, FBN, FOXNC, Galavision, MSNBC, NBC, NBC Universo, Univision^ Obama
1/20/2015 31,710,349 19.9 ABC, Al Jazeera America, Azteca, CBS, CNN, FOX, FBN, FOXNC, Galavision, MSNBC, MundoFOX, NBC, Univision^ Obama
1/18/2014 33,299,172 20.7 CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, Azteca, FBN, FOXNC, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Al Jazeera America, Galavision, Mun2, UNI^ Obama
2/12/2013 33,497,607 21.8 FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Azteca, UNI, MFX, CNBC, CNN, FBN, FOXNC, MSNBC, Current, Centric, GALA Obama
1/24/2012 37,752,613 24.0 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, TEL, TF, UNI, CNBC, CNN, FBN, FOXNC, GALA, MSNBC and MUN2 Obama
1/25/2011 42,789,947 26.6 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, TEL, UNI, CNN, Centric, CNBC, FOXNC, and MSNBC Obama
1/27/2010 48,009,595 29.8 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, TEL, UNI, CNN, BET, CNBC, FOXNC, MSNBC Obama
2/24/2009* 52,373,000 32.5 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC, TELEMUNDO, UNIVISION Obama
1/28/2008 37,515,000 24.7 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC, TELEMUNDO^, UNIVISION G.W Bush
1/23/2007 45,486,000 29.6 ABC, CBS, FOX**, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC, TELEMUNDO**, UNIVISION ** G.W. Bush
1/31/2006 43,179,000 35.3 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC, AZTECA AMERICA, TELEFUTURA, TELEMUNDO G.W. Bush
2/2/2005 39,432,000 31.2 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC, TELEFUTURA, TELEMUNDO G.W. Bush
1/20/2004 43,411,000 28.0 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, CNBC, FOXNC, MSNBC G.W. Bush
1/28/2003 62,061,000 38.8 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, CNBC, FOXNC, MSNBC G.W. Bush
1/29/2002 51,773,000 33.6 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, CNBC, FOXNC, MSNBC G.W. Bush
2/27/2001* 39,793,000 27.6 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC G.W. Bush
1/27/2000 31,478,000 22.4 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC Clinton
1/19/1999 43,500,000 31.0 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, FOXNC, MSNBC Clinton
1/27/1998 53,077,000 37.2 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, CNBC, FOXNC, MSNBC Clinton
2/4/1997 41,100,000 28.4 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN Clinton
1/23/1996 40,900,000 29.6 ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN Clinton
1/24/1995 42,200,000 29.5 ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN Clinton
1/25/1994 45,800,000 32.9 ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN Clinton
2/17/1993* 66,900,000 44.3 ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN Clinton
Source: Nielsen
Nielsen's Big Data Panel methodology was implemented in September 2025. All prior reporting was based on Nielsen's Panel-Only measurement.
Time-shifted viewing (Live Same-Day, 3am-3am) is included in audience estimates in this table for years 2006 and later. Estimates prior to 2006 include live viewing only.
* Single asterisks denote addresses that were officially Addresses to Joint Sessions of Congress.
^ Denotes tape-delayed coverage by a particular network.
** 1/23/07: coverage of asterisked (**) networks went beyond a common end time. Measurement of these networks included SOTU address and commentary. Does not include Democratic Response.
Press Contacts: Lauren Pabst
lauren.pabst@nielsen.com
Emily Scoble
emily.scoble@nielsen.com
