Primetime Emmy Awards 2026: See the full list of nominees
Emmy Nominations 2026: A Comprehensive Look at This Year’s Contenders
Primetime Emmy Awards 2026 – Wednesday marked a significant moment for television enthusiasts as the 78th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 2026 nominations were officially announced. The reveal brought excitement across Hollywood, with industry observers anticipating fierce competition in several categories. Apple TV emerged as one of the evening’s most celebrated networks, securing multiple nominations for its fresh programming slate including “Pluribus,” “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” and “Widow’s Bay.” The Primetime Emmy Awards 2026 nominations reflect a year of exceptional storytelling and performances that have captivated audiences worldwide.
Drama Categories See Continued Dominance
Returning series maintained their strong presence this year, with HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pitt” leading all programs with an impressive 25 nominations. The show’s consistent excellence across drama categories has clearly resonated with voters. Meanwhile, “Euphoria” faced some disappointment after a polarizing final season resulted in a snub from the top category, though both Zendaya and Colman Domingo received acting recognition for their performances.
One particularly notable situation involved “Heated Rivalry,” a gay hockey drama that disappointed many fans by missing nominations entirely. The show’s exclusion stemmed from its status as a fully Canadian production, which rendered it ineligible for consideration. However, the series did receive indirect recognition when co-lead Connor Storrie earned an Emmy nod for his guest appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”
Comedy Categories Promise Intense Competition
The comedy lead actress category appears destined for what some are calling a “full civil war” between Lisa Kudrow and Jean Smart. Both performers delivered what many consider career-defining work in the final seasons of their respective series. Smart, who portrays Deborah Vance in the HBO comedy “Hacks,” has already accumulated four Emmy wins for her performance. Kudrow, meanwhile, won only once before—back in 1998 in the supporting category for her beloved portrayal of Phoebe Buffay on “Friends.”
Another major comedy headline centers on “Widow’s Bay,” which secured 19 nominations for the horror-comedy series. The show, featuring Matthew Rhys as the mayor of an island grappling with supernatural occurrences, has generated tremendous word-of-mouth momentum for Apple TV. Despite some criticism that the series has grown somewhat repetitive over time, “The Bear” still earned a nomination for outstanding comedy series. Ayo Edebiri and the late Rob Reiner both received nominations for their contributions to the show, though star Jeremy Allen White was notably overlooked despite having previously won his category on two separate occasions.
Additional Recognition Across Categories
Wednesday proved especially rewarding for Matthew Rhys, who earned a nomination in the limited series category for his portrayal of a threatening billionaire in “The Beast in Me.” His co-star Claire Danes received similar recognition for her work on the same project. Rhys’s wife, Keri Russell, also found herself honored for her performance as a resolute American ambassador in the Netflix drama “The Diplomat.”
The Primetime Emmy Awards 2026 ceremony will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay, best known for her role in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” The event is scheduled to broadcast live on Monday, September 14 at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PT on NBC, with streaming available through Peacock. A complete list of major categories can be found below, while the full roster of nominees is available on the Television Academy website.
A previous version of this story misstated the show for which Riz Ahmed was nominated. It was “Bait.”