2026 Emmy Nominations: Who Led & Who Got Snubbed?

Top Nomination Leaders

A handful of shows separated themselves from the pack this year:

• "The Pitt" (HBO Max) — 25 nominations. The medical drama, which won Outstanding Drama Series last year, is back in that race again and picked up 13 acting nominations total, including nods for Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa in the lead categories
• "Hacks" (HBO Max) — 24 nominations. In its final season, the comedy set a new record for the category, edging past the mark set last year by "The Bear" and "The Studio." Its haul includes Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Directing, and a Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nomination for Jean Smart, who plays Deborah Vance
• "Widow's Bay" (Apple TV+) — 19 nominations. The freshman limited series landed a Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series nomination for Matthew Rhys among its surprisingly strong first-year showing
• "Pluribus" (Apple TV+) — 18 nominations. The freshman sci-fi drama picked up an Outstanding Drama Series nomination along with a Lead Actress in a Drama Series nod for Rhea Seehorn
• "Beef" (Netflix) — 16 nominations. The limited series earned Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series nominations for Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan

HBO Max edged out Netflix for the overall nominations crown this year, 122 to 111, though Netflix remained close behind across its full slate of shows.

Final Seasons Get a Mixed Sendoff

Several long-running favorites wrapped up this season, and the Emmys treated them differently on their way out:

• "Euphoria" missed out on an Outstanding Drama Series nomination for its divisive final season but still landed Lead Actress and Lead Actor in a Drama Series nods for Zendaya and Colman Domingo.
• "Stranger Things" was shut out of the series, acting, writing, and directing races entirely, closing out with seven below-the-line nominations in categories like production design, makeup, and sound.
• "The Boys" suffered a similar fate, picking up five nominations, all in craft categories such as costumes and original music, with no acting or series recognition.

Notable Snubs and Surprises

Not every buzzy title made the cut this year, and a few storylines stood out:

• "Heated Rivalry," the gay hockey drama that became a breakout hit, wasn't eligible for the Emmys at all since it's an entirely Canadian production, a wrinkle explained in more detail by CNN's rundown of nomination morning. Its co-lead Connor Storrie still landed a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his "Saturday Night Live" appearance.
• Rob Reiner picked up a posthumous nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in "The Bear." Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead in their Los Angeles home last December, according to CBS News' coverage of the nominations.
• Taylor Swift picked up her second career Emmy nomination, this time for her concert film "The Eras Tour: The Final Show."

Comedy's Biggest Showdown

The Lead Actress in a Comedy Series race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive fights of the season. Lisa Kudrow ("The Comeback") and Jean Smart ("Hacks") both turned in acclaimed final-season performances, and the two are widely expected to be the frontrunners. Kudrow has only won one Emmy in her career, back in 1998 for "Friends," while Smart is chasing her fifth trophy for "Hacks."

Late Night Stays Crowded

The late-night talk category remains a full house, with all the usual names back in the mix:

• "The Daily Show"
• "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
• "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver"
• "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert"
• "Saturday Night Live"

A Few Rule Changes This Year

The Television Academy made a couple of structural tweaks ahead of this year's nominations. Outstanding Scripted Variety Series and Outstanding Talk Series were merged into a single Outstanding Variety Series category due to a drop in submissions, and the Outstanding Television Movie category was renamed simply Outstanding Movie to better reflect the current TV landscape.

When and Where to Watch

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air live on Monday, September 14, shifting from its usual Sunday slot to make way for an NFL game on NBC. The ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and stream on Peacock. "Law & Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay will host, becoming the first woman to lead the show in 15 years. Before that, the Creative Arts Emmys will hand out below-the-line honors on September 5 and 6.

With 28 first-time nominees in the mix and several major shows taking their final Emmy bow, this year's ceremony is shaping up to be a genuinely unpredictable one.

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