The Young and the Restless secured the top spot in daytime soap opera ratings for the week of May 25-29, 2026, drawing 3,138,000 total viewers. According to Nielsen, CBS-distributed programs led the rankings, with The Bold and the Beautiful following in second place for both total viewership and key female demographics.
Which soap operas led in total viewers?
The Young and the Restless (Y&R) maintained its dominance, recording 3,138,000 total viewers. This represents an increase of 2,000 viewers from the previous week and a significant rise of 259,000 compared to the same period last year, Nielsen reported.
The Bold and the Beautiful (B&B) held the second position with 2,705,000 total viewers. While the show saw a slight weekly decrease of 9,000 viewers, it remains up 276,000 viewers compared to last year’s figures.
General Hospital (GH) climbed to third place, attracting 1,843,000 viewers. This figure marks a weekly increase of 34,000, though it sits 1,000 viewers below the previous year’s mark. Beyond the Gates (BTG) finished fourth with 1,576,000 viewers, a drop of 50,000 from the prior week but an increase of 66,000 over last year.
How do the ratings look for key female demographics?
Demographic data shows Y&R remains the leader among female viewers. In the Women 18-49 category, Y&R earned a 0.25 rating, up 0.04 from the previous week. In the Women 25-54 category, the show recorded a 0.41 rating.
The Bold and the Beautiful followed with a 0.20 rating in the Women 18-49 demographic and a 0.31 rating in the Women 25-54 demographic. While B&B’s 18-49 rating remained steady week-over-week, its 25-54 rating dipped by 0.02.
The competition for the remaining spots was tight. General Hospital and Beyond the Gates tied in the Women 18-49 demographic with 0.17 ratings each. However, in the Women 25-54 category, Beyond the Gates outpaced General Hospital with a 0.24 rating compared to 0.23.
Weekly Demographic Comparison
| Show | W18-49 Rating | W25-54 Rating |
|---|---|---|
| The Young and the Restless | 0.25 | 0.41 |
| The Bold and the Beautiful | 0.20 | 0.31 |
| Beyond the Gates | 0.17 | 0.24 |
| General Hospital | 0.17 | 0.23 |
Why did Nielsen change its measurement model?
Nielsen transitioned to the Live+Same Day Big Data + Panel model starting with the 2025-2026 television season. This shift moves away from the 2024-2025 model, which relied solely on the Panel-only method.
This change matters because it incorporates a wider range of viewing behaviors. By combining massive datasets with traditional panel monitoring, Nielsen aims to capture a more accurate picture of how viewers interact with daytime programming across different devices and timeframes.
Industry analysts note that this transition makes year-over-year comparisons more complex. Because the 2024-2025 figures were based on the old model, the significant jumps in viewership seen in shows like Y&R and B&B may reflect both actual audience growth and the increased sensitivity of the new measurement system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which soap opera has the highest viewership?
According to Nielsen data for the week of May 25-29, 2026, The Young and the Restless holds the highest viewership with 3,138,000 total viewers.
What is the difference between the old and new Nielsen models?
The previous model used a Panel-only approach. The new 2025-2026 model uses Live+Same Day Big Data combined with Panel data to provide a more comprehensive viewing metric.
How do soap operas measure success in demographics?
Networks focus on ratings within specific age and gender brackets, such as Women 18-49 and Women 25-54, as these are highly valued by advertisers.
What do you think about the latest ratings shifts? Leave a comment below with your thoughts on which show will lead the next season, or subscribe to our newsletter for weekly industry updates!
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