US Megachurches Rebound After Pandemic While Smaller Congregations Keep Shrinking
A 2026 study from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research found that 67% of megachurches now exceed their pre-pandemic attendance, with 86% reporting they are thriving. Smaller churches, however, continue to lose ground, with average weekly attendance dropping from 137 in 2000 to 65 by 2020.
A new study from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows a sharp divide in American church attendance: megachurches are growing, and smaller congregations are not.
The 2026 report found that 67% of megachurches now exceed their pre-pandemic attendance levels. Eighty-six percent say they are thriving and optimistic about the future. Roughly 1,850 to 2,000 megachurches now attract about one in every six Protestant worshipers in the United States.
The numbers tell a different story for smaller churches. Average weekly attendance at a typical American church dropped from 137 in 2000 to 65 by 2020. The share of Americans attending church weekly fell from 32% in 2000 to about 20% in 2026.
Researchers describe the trend as "religious consolidation." Fewer people attend church overall, but those who do are increasingly choosing larger congregations with bigger budgets, more programming, and stronger media presence.
The largest churches, including Life.Church with 85,000 attendees and Church of the Highlands with 60,000, continue to grow. Much of that growth comes from the multisite model, which counts attendance across dozens of physical locations.
Megachurches operate with median annual budgets of $5.5 million. A typical small church runs on about $120,000 per year. That financial gap makes it difficult for smaller congregations to compete for members who have come to expect high-production worship experiences.
Some church leaders are pushing back against the megachurch model. A growing number are choosing smaller, community-focused approaches, citing a desire for deeper relationships and more personal discipleship.
The study notes that the total number of megachurches has largely plateaued over the past decade, hovering between 1,800 and 2,000. Growth in the sector is slowing even as individual large churches continue to expand.
