The nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards are officially here, and the 2026 race is shaping up as a major battle between television’s biggest returning heavyweights, freshman breakouts, and the platforms fighting to define the next era of prestige TV.
Announced July 8 from the Wolf Theatre in the Saban Media Center, this year’s nominations were unveiled by Emmy winners Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller, alongside Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego. The 78th Emmy Awards will air live on Monday, September 14, 2026, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on NBC and Peacock, with Mariska Hargitay serving as host. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will take place on September 5 and 6.
The eligibility window covered television programming released between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026, and the final list reflects a television landscape dominated by streaming giants, acclaimed ensemble dramas, and a healthy wave of fresh faces. From The Pitt and Hacks to Pluribus, Widow’s Bay, and Paradise, this year’s nominations tell a story about where television is right now and where it is headed next.
HBO Max Leads the Field While Apple TV Makes a Serious Statement
HBO Max came out on top with 122 Emmy nominations across 21 original programs, reinforcing its status as one of the industry’s most formidable awards players. The platform’s nomination haul was driven by major recognition for The Pitt, Hacks, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Gilded Age, Task, Euphoria, and more.
Netflix followed closely behind with 111 nominations, while Apple TV had one of its strongest Emmy mornings yet, landing 87 nominations overall, or 89 including commercials. Apple’s performance was especially notable because it was powered not only by returning contenders, but by a slate of freshman and still-rising series including Pluribus, Widow’s Bay, Shrinking, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Slow Horses, and Your Friends & Neighbors.
For HBO Max, the nominations reaffirm the depth of its programming slate. For Apple TV, they mark something even more significant. The platform is no longer simply trying to break into the Emmy conversation. It is now helping lead it.
The Pitt and Hacks Became the Morning’s Biggest Storylines
The biggest single-show leader of the year was The Pitt, which earned 25 nominations and led all drama nominees. The HBO Max medical drama made its presence felt across acting, directing, writing, and craft categories, confirming it as one of the most dominant series of the year.
Right behind it was Hacks, which scored 24 nominations and made Emmy history in the process. The series now holds the record for the most nominations ever earned by a comedy series in a single year, surpassing the previous mark of 23 shared by The Studio in 2025 and The Bear in 2024.
That gives Hacks a powerful narrative heading into the fall ceremony. It is not just a beloved awards favorite anymore. It is now a record-breaker, and its final-season momentum could make it one of the most difficult shows to beat.
Apple TV’s Breakout Freshman Shows Reshaped the Conversation
Two of the most interesting stories of nomination morning belong to Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay and Pluribus.
Widow’s Bay earned 19 nominations, making it one of the biggest freshman comedy breakouts of the year. The series landed in Outstanding Comedy Series and scored acting nominations for Matthew Rhys, Stephen Root, Dale Dickey, Kate O’Flynn, Hamish Linklater, and Betty Gilpin, among others.
Meanwhile, Pluribus earned 18 nominations, positioning Vince Gilligan’s return to television as one of the year’s most successful drama debuts. The series landed in Outstanding Drama Series and picked up major recognition for Rhea Seehorn, Miriam Shor, Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Karolina Wydra, and Gilligan himself.
Together, those two shows gave Apple TV a pair of freshman contenders with serious awards weight in both comedy and drama, which is no small feat in a television year this crowded.
The Top Series Categories Reflect a Platform War
The Outstanding Drama Series nominees are The Diplomat, The Gilded Age, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Paradise, The Pitt, Pluribus, Slow Horses, and Your Friends & Neighbors.
The Outstanding Comedy Series nominees are Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, Shrinking, and Widow’s Bay.
These categories make one thing clear. The major streamers are controlling the top of the ballot, but the shape of that control varies by platform. HBO Max remains the prestige powerhouse with top-heavy category strength. Apple TV is building across both comedy and drama. Netflix continues to hold important ground. Hulu stays competitive with standout series like Paradise and Only Murders in the Building, and ABC’s Abbott Elementary remains one of broadcast television’s most reliable awards performers.
Black Talent Is a Vital Part of This Year’s Emmy Story
Beyond the platform race and the show totals, one of the most meaningful threads in this year’s nominations is the strong presence of Black talent across several major acting categories.
In Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II earned a nomination for Wonder Man, continuing to build a résumé that keeps stretching across film, television, and genre storytelling. In Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Quinta Brunson once again landed recognition for Abbott Elementary, while Ayo Edebiri continued her remarkable run with a nomination for The Bear.
The supporting comedy races also featured standout Black performers. Colman Domingo picked up a nomination for The Four Seasons, while Tyler James Williams continued Abbott Elementary’s strong awards presence with another nomination. On the actress side, Janelle James earned recognition for her scene-stealing work as Ava Coleman on Abbott Elementary, and Jessica Williams landed a nomination for Shrinking.
In drama, Sterling K. Brown scored a Lead Actor nomination for Paradise, once again proving how consistently he remains among television’s most commanding screen presences. Chase Infiniti also made a major impression with a Lead Actress nomination for The Testaments, marking one of the most exciting breakout nominations of the year. Zendaya also returned to the Emmy race with a Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination for Euphoria, further solidifying her place as one of television’s defining talents.
The significance of those nominations goes beyond simple representation. They reflect a broader television landscape where Black performers are continuing to shape some of the medium’s most celebrated work across comedy, drama, prestige, and genre storytelling. From veterans like Sterling K. Brown and Colman Domingo to powerhouse names like Quinta Brunson, Ayo Edebiri, and Zendaya, this year’s ballot offers a clear reminder that Black talent remains central to the most compelling stories on television.
First-Time Nominees and Fresh Faces Add New Energy
The Television Academy also recognized 28 first-time performer nominees this year, giving the race an exciting mix of established names and breakout newcomers. Among those first-time nominees are Taylor Dearden for The Pitt, Chase Infiniti for The Testaments, Sarah Pidgeon for Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, Connor Storrie for Saturday Night Live, Megan Stalter for Hacks, and several members of The Pitt ensemble.
That wave of first-time nominees keeps the Emmy ballot from feeling too familiar. Even with major returning favorites still dominating, this year’s nominations suggest the Academy is increasingly open to fresh performances and newer series that manage to break through the noise.
Multi-Hyphenates Continue to Dominate Television
Another major trend this year is the continued rise of the multi-hyphenate creative.
Jason Bateman had one of the biggest mornings of any individual, earning four nominations across acting, directing, and producing for Black Rabbit and DTF St. Louis. Six more individuals earned three nominations each: Quinta Brunson, Paul W. Downs, Matthew Rhys, Jason Segel, Martin Short, and Noah Wyle.
That group reflects the current reality of television, where many of the medium’s most important creative voices are no longer confined to a single role. They are starring, writing, producing, directing, and shaping their shows from multiple angles.
The Biggest Snubs and Surprises
No Emmy nomination morning is complete without a few major talking points, and this year’s ballot left plenty of room for debate.
One of the biggest shocks was the relative underperformance of The Bear in the acting categories. While the show still landed in Outstanding Comedy Series and Ayo Edebiri received a Lead Actress nomination, Jeremy Allen White and Ebon Moss-Bachrach were both left out, an outcome that will likely spark plenty of discussion among fans and awards watchers.
Elsewhere, critically respected titles like Industry missed out on top-tier drama recognition, while Landman failed to break through despite its high profile. Stranger Things also missed the Outstanding Drama Series lineup, signaling how much more competitive the prestige space has become.
Another fascinating wrinkle is Heated Rivalry, which remained absent not because of voter rejection, but because of Emmy eligibility rules tied to non-U.S. financing. It is one of the more interesting examples of how global television success and Emmy recognition do not always move in lockstep.
A Posthumous Nomination Brings an Emotional Note
One of the most emotional stories from nomination morning came with Rob Reiner’s posthumous nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for The Bear. It is a poignant reminder that even in a year filled with new stars and breakout performances, the industry still pauses to honor legendary voices whose impact stretches across generations.
Looking Ahead to September
Final-round online voting opens on August 17 and closes on August 26, with the Creative Arts Emmy Awards scheduled for September 5 and 6 and the Primetime Emmy ceremony airing live on September 14.
For now, the shape of the race is clear. HBO Max leads the field, Apple TV has officially arrived as a top-tier awards force, The Pitt and Hacks are the dominant series stories, and Black talent continues to play a meaningful and powerful role across the ballot. If nomination morning is any indication, the 78th Emmy Awards should deliver one of the most competitive and conversation-driving television races in recent memory.
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