CBS News Poll Finds Most Americans Believe Intelligent Life Exists Elsewhere, Though Many Remain Skeptical of Visits

Most Americans now believe intelligent life exists on other planets, according to a CBS News/YouGov survey conducted June 2-4, 2026. U.S. adults found that belief has risen sharply since 2010, when fewer than half of respondents held that view.

One in five Americans think extraterrestrial life has already made contact with Earth. Among those who have watched videos released by the federal government on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, four in 10 said the material made them more likely to believe aliens have visited Earth. Seventeen percent of respondents said they have personally seen something they thought was a UFO.

More men than women reported such sightings. Americans who said they had seen a UFO overwhelmingly believed intelligent life exists elsewhere. U.S. government knows more about UFOs than it is telling the public.

That view was shared by most Democrats, most Republicans, and most independents. Most Americans have heard or read at least something about the government's release of UAP files and videos, and four in 10 said they had watched some of the material.

Americans remain divided on the origin of UFO reports. Those who believe intelligent life exists elsewhere tend to think reports are at least sometimes caused by alien spacecraft. Those who do not believe in extraterrestrial intelligence more often attribute sightings to human or natural activity.

If contact with extraterrestrials occurred, Americans said they would greet visitors with more fascination than fear, though more would feel nervous than calm. Those who reported seeing a UFO said they would mostly be curious, with many also feeling nervous and excited.