2026 Emmy nominations unveiled for 78th annual television awards
The Television Academy has unveiled the 2026 Emmy nominations, setting the stage for a star-studded awards ceremony hosted by Mariska Hargitay. See which series and performers are competing for the industry's highest honors this year.
2026 Emmy nominations unveiled for 78th annual television awards
The 2026 Emmy nominations were announced on Wednesday, July 8, at the Television Academy's Wolf Theatre, kicking off the race for television's biggest honors. Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller, both previous Emmy winners, announced the nominations live, as reported by yahoo.com.
The nominations were also revealed on NBC's Today show earlier that morning, with the network's reality hit The Traitors receiving its third nomination for Best Reality Competition Series. The Alan Cumming-hosted series has won that category for the past two years and is looking to add a third statuette to its shelf, according to yahoo.com.
NBC's Saturday Night Live received its latest nomination for Best Variety Series for its 51st season. The late-night institution hopes to increase its overall Emmy count to a record 114 wins but faces formidable competition from the final season of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, as stated by yahoo.com.
This year's Emmy Awards mark their 78th anniversary, celebrating excellence throughout the television industry. A total of 555 series were submitted across the 14 major program categories for the 2026 Emmy Awards, recognizing the writers, directors, performers, and artisans who worked on television and streaming programs in the past year, as reported by yahoo.com.
Last year's big Emmy winners were HBO Max's The Pitt for Best Drama Series, Apple TV's The Studio for Best Comedy Series, and Netflix's Adolescence as Best Limited Series, according to yahoo.com. The 78th Emmys will air live on Monday, September 14, on NBC and Peacock, hosted by Mariska Hargitay.
The nominations include a range of categories, such as Best Comedy Series, Best Drama Series, Best Limited Series, and Best Reality Competition Series. The list of nominees also features several actors and actresses who have been recognized for their outstanding performances, including Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Steve Carell, and Quinta Brunson, as listed by tvline.com.
Some of the notable nominations include Hacks, which picked up 24 nominations, and The Pitt, which received 25 nominations, including nine acting nominations. The Apple TV breakout freshman series Pluribus also had a strong showing with 18 nominations, as reported by tvline.com.
The ceremony will take place live at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on September 14 and will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay. The show will air on NBC and Peacock, and the nominees will be recognized for their outstanding work in the television industry.
The full list of nominees includes:
- Best Comedy Series: Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, Margo's Got Money Troubles, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, Shrinking, Widow's Bay, as listed by yahoo.com.
- Best Drama Series: The Diplomat, The Gilded Age, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Paradise, The Pitt, Pluribus, Slow Horses, Your Friends and Neighbors, as listed by tvline.com.
- Best Limited Series: All Her Fault, The Beast in Me, Beef, DTF St. Louis, Love Story, as listed by tvline.com.
- Best Reality Competition Series: Dancing With the Stars, RuPaul's Drag Race, Survivor, Top Chef, The Traitors, as listed by yahoo.com.
- Best Variety Series: The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Saturday Night Live, as listed by tvline.com.
The 78th Emmy Awards will recognize the best in television, with winners to be announced on September 14. The ceremony will be a celebration of excellence in the television industry, honoring the talented individuals who have made significant contributions to the medium.
