The Emmy Awards 2026 nominations have officially arrived, and this year’s lineup reflects a television landscape where blockbuster returning series are sharing the spotlight with ambitious newcomers. HBO Max medical drama The Pitt emerged as the most-nominated show with 25 nominations, while Hacks capped its final season with a record-setting 24 nominations in the comedy race.
The nominations also delivered several milestone moments. Zendaya returned to the drama race for Euphoria, Jean Smart continued her remarkable Emmy run with another nomination for Hacks, and Matthew Rhys earned recognition in two major acting categories. Meanwhile, Apple TV+’s Widow’s Bay established itself as the biggest breakout series of the year with 19 nominations.
The winners will be announced during the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on September 14, 2026, with Mariska Hargitay making history as the first woman to host the awards in 15 years.
What stood out in the Emmy Awards 2026 nominations?
This year’s nominations reveal two clear trends shaping television.
First, established franchises continue to dominate. Shows like Only Murders in the Building, Abbott Elementary, Shrinking, Slow Horses, and The Diplomat remain Emmy favorites after multiple successful seasons.
Second, voters embraced ambitious new productions. Series including The Pitt, Widow’s Bay, Pluribus, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms quickly became awards contenders in their debut seasons, signaling that fresh storytelling continues to resonate with Television Academy members.
Another notable takeaway is the growing influence of streaming platforms. Netflix, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Hulu, and FX account for most of the headline nominees across drama, comedy, and limited series categories.
Mariska Hargitay makes Emmy history
The 2026 ceremony carries historic significance beyond the nominees.
Mariska Hargitay, an Emmy-winning actor best known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, will host television’s biggest night, becoming the first female solo host of the Emmy Awards in 15 years.
The Creative Arts Emmys will take place on September 5 and 6 before the main ceremony on September 14.
Which shows dominated the nominations?
The Pitt leads the field
Medical drama The Pitt earned an impressive 25 nominations, making it the most-recognized program this year.
Beyond Outstanding Drama Series, the show received multiple acting nominations, including Noah Wyle for Lead Actor and several supporting acting nods, highlighting the strength of its ensemble cast.
Hacks closes with a record
Comedy favorite Hacks received 24 nominations for its final season, making it one of the most celebrated comedy series in recent Emmy history.
Jean Smart once again leads the comedy actress race, while the series also secured nominations across writing, supporting performances, and Outstanding Comedy Series.
Widow’s Bay becomes the breakout newcomer
Apple TV+’s supernatural mystery Widow’s Bay earned 19 nominations, the highest total among first-year series.
Matthew Rhys received a Lead Comedy Actor nomination for the show, further cementing its status as one of the year’s biggest surprise successes.
Historic milestones among the nominees
Several nominees reached important career milestones.
- Selena Gomez became the most-nominated Latina producer after receiving her 10th Emmy nomination as an executive producer for Only Murders in the Building.
- Taylor Swift became a two-time Emmy nominee after The Eras Tour: The Final Show earned a nomination for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded).
- Sarah Pidgeon, Sabrina Carpenter, and Connor Storrie each received their first Emmy nominations.
- Matthew Rhys earned nominations in both comedy and limited series acting categories.
These achievements reflect both the industry’s continued recognition of established talent and the arrival of a new generation of performers.
Full list of major Emmy Awards 2026 nominees
Outstanding drama series
- The Diplomat
- The Gilded Age
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
- Paradise
- The Pitt
- Pluribus
- Slow Horses
- Your Friends & Neighbors
Outstanding comedy series
- Abbott Elementary
- The Bear
- Hacks
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Nobody Wants This
- Only Murders in the Building
- Shrinking
- Widow’s Bay
Outstanding limited or anthology series
- All Her Fault
- The Beast in Me
- Beef
- DTF St. Louis
- Love Story
Lead acting nominees
Drama actor
- Sterling K. Brown (Paradise)
- Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)
- Mark Ruffalo (Task)
- Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat)
- Noah Wyle (The Pitt)
Drama actress
- Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age)
- Chase Infiniti (The Testaments)
- Keri Russell (The Diplomat)
- Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus)
- Zendaya (Euphoria)
Comedy actor
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Wonder Man)
- Steve Carell (Rooster)
- Matthew Rhys (Widow’s Bay)
- Jason Segel (Shrinking)
- Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)
Comedy actress
- Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
- Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
- Elle Fanning (Margo’s Got Money Troubles)
- Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback)
- Jean Smart (Hacks)
Limited series actor
- Riz Ahmed (Bait)
- Jason Bateman (Black Rabbit)
- Charlie Hunnam (Monster: The Ed Gein Story)
- Oscar Isaac (Beef)
- Matthew Rhys (The Beast in Me)
Limited series actress
- Claire Danes (The Beast in Me)
- Sally Field (Remarkably Bright Creatures)
- Carey Mulligan (Beef)
- Sarah Pidgeon (Love Story)
- Sarah Snook (All Her Fault)
Variety and reality competition nominees
Outstanding variety series
- The Daily Show
- Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
- The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
- Saturday Night Live
Outstanding reality competition program
- Dancing With the Stars
- RuPaul’s Drag Race
- Survivor
- Top Chef
- The Traitors
Why these nominations matter
The 2026 nominations underscore how television continues to evolve beyond traditional network programming.
Streaming services have become the primary home for prestige television, with Apple TV+, Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and FX producing many of the year’s most critically acclaimed series. At the same time, legacy broadcast shows such as Abbott Elementary and Saturday Night Live continue to prove their staying power.
The balance between veteran stars, including Gary Oldman, Jean Smart, Martin Short, and Zendaya, alongside emerging talent such as Sarah Pidgeon and Chase Infiniti, suggests the Television Academy is recognizing both established excellence and new voices.
TL;DR
- The Pitt leads all shows with 25 Emmy nominations.
- Hacks earned 24 nominations for its final season.
- Widow’s Bay received 19 nominations, the most among new series.
- Zendaya, Jean Smart, Noah Wyle, Matthew Rhys, and Gary Oldman headline the acting races.
- Mariska Hargitay will host the 2026 Emmy Awards, becoming the first female host in 15 years.
- The Primetime Emmy Awards will air on September 14, 2026.
