Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu --> Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics 2026 Emmy nominations: See the list Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller presented the nominees on Wednesday morning. The Pitt led all shows with 25 nominations, followed closely by the final season of Hacks with 24. Pop Culture Happy Hour Pop culture in high spirits Television Movies Music Books Performing Arts Pop Culture Facebook Here are the 2026 Emmy nominations Updated July 8, 20261:28 PM ET Originally published July 8, 202611:29 AM ET Linda Holmes
Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller presented the nominees on Wednesday morning. Winners will be announced at the 78th Emmy Awards on September 14. Read analysis below or click here for the list of nominees.
The nominations look familiar — up to a point. There are plenty of expected names in the list of nominees for the 2026 Emmy Awards: The Pitt led all shows with 25 nominations, followed closely by the final season of Hacks with 24. But not far behind are the 19 nominations for the new, offbeat horror comedy Widow's Bay, including for outstanding comedy series and six actors, including lead actor Matthew Rhys. Just behind that, with 18 nominations, is the first season of Pluribus, creator Vince Gilligan's follow-up to Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, led by nominated lead actress Rhea Seehorn.
The hottest competition isn't where it used to be. There was a time when the limited or anthology series categories were where the most closely-watched races were happening. But this year, the nominees for outstanding program in that category are not the shows of the year. The second season of Beef was fine, Love Story: John F. Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette was very similar to other work under Ryan Murphy's umbrella, and Sarah Snook was fabulous in All Her Fault. But are these limited series the really interesting shows out there, the way they were in 2021, when The Queen's Gambit beat out Mare of Easttown, I May Destroy You, The Underground Railroad and WandaVision? They are not.
As always, the first-timers are an interesting mix. Just from The Pitt, Gerran Howell (who plays Whittaker), Taylor Dearden (Mel), Patrick Ball, (Langdon), Fiona Dourif (McKay), Sepideh Moafi (Al-Hashimi), Jeff Kober (Duke), Tal Anderson (Becca) and Ernest Harden Jr. (Louie) got their first Emmy nominations. But so did Carey Mulligan, who's a three-time Oscar nominee, recognized here for Beef. Leslie Bibb, whose TV work goes all the way back to Popular on the WB in 1999, got her first Emmy nod for a guest spot on Hacks. Heated Rivalry wasn't eligible because it's Canadian, but Connor Storrie still got his first nomination for his guest appearance on Saturday Night Live.
Not all shows seeming to be awards magnets work out that way. Half Man, Richard Gadd's follow-up to the highly acclaimed series Baby Reindeer, received only a nomination for Gadd's acting. The second season of Apple's Your Friends & Neighbors, starring Mad Men's Jon Hamm (nominated eight times for Mad Men, where he won once) was nominated for outstanding drama series, but that's it. The Lowdown, the exceptional FX series starring Ethan Hawke as an Oklahoma journalist, was shut out entirely. Sometimes it's a relief and sometimes a disappointment, but things with plenty of energy behind them do miss out.
Outstanding comedy series
TV Reviews A young mom turns to OnlyFans to make ends meet in 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' Abbott ElementaryThe BearNobody Wants ThisHacksMargo's Got Money TroublesOnly Murders in the BuildingShrinkingWidow's Bay
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series
Television 'Abbott Elementary' creator Quinta Brunson finds humor and heart in the classroom Quinta Brunson, Abbott ElementaryAyo Edebiri, The BearElle Fanning, Margo's Got Money TroublesLisa Kudrow, The ComebackJean Smart, Hacks
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series
Pop Culture Happy Hour In 'Rooster,' Steve Carell makes some college admissions Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Wonder ManSteve Carell, RoosterMatthew Rhys, Widow's BayJason Segel, ShrinkingMartin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series
Television 'I love transforming': Nick Offerman goes from Pawnee to pro wrestler Colman Domingo, The Four SeasonsPaul W. Downs, HacksNick Offerman, Margo's Got Money TroublesStephen Root, Widow's BayMichael Urie, ShrinkingTyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series
Television Comic Hannah Einbinder on 'Hacks,' cheerleading and laughs as a love language Dale Dickey, Widow's BayHannah Einbinder, HacksJanelle James, Abbott ElementaryKate O'Flynn, Widow's BayMichelle Pfeiffer, Margo's Got Money TroublesMegan Stalter, HacksJessica Williams, Shrinking
Outstanding drama series
Pop Culture Happy Hour In 'Pluribus,' isolation is the price of a frictionless life The DiplomatThe Gilded AgeA Knight of the Seven KingdomsParadiseThe PittPluribusSlow HorsesYour Friends and Neighbors
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series
Television After years of avoiding the ER, Noah Wyle feels 'right at home' in 'The Pitt' Sterling K. Brown, ParadiseGary Oldman, Slow HorsesMark Ruffalo, TaskRufus Sewell, The DiplomatNoah Wyle, The Pitt
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series
Television After 'Felicity' and a stint as a spy, Keri Russell embraces her new 'Diplomat' role Carrie Coon, The Gilded AgeChase Infiniti, The TestamentsKeri Russell, The DiplomatRhea Seahorn, PluribusZendaya, Euphoria
Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series
Television From 'Almost Famous' to definitely famous, Billy Crudup is enjoying his new TV roles Patrick Ball, The PittBilly Crudup, The Morning ShowShawn Hatosy, The PittGerran Howell, The PittJack Lowden, Slow HorsesTom Pelphrey, TaskCarlos Manuel-Vesga, Pluribus
Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series
Taylor Dearden, The PittFiona Dourif, The PittAllison Janney, The DiplomatKatherine LaNasa, The PittSepideh Moafi, The PittJulianne Nicholson, ParadiseKarolina Wydra, Pluribus
Outstanding limited or anthology series
Pop Culture Happy Hour 'Love Story' navigates the complex Kennedy mythology All Her FaultThe Beast In MeBeefDTF St. LouisLove Story
Outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie
Claire Danes, The Beast In MeSally Field, Remarkably Bright CreaturesCarey Mulligan, BeefSarah Pidgeon, Love StorySarah Snook, All Her Fault
Outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie
Fresh Air Riz Ahmed is chasing acceptance in 'Bait' Riz Ahmed, BaitJason Bateman, Black RabbitCharlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein StoryOscar Isaac, BeefMatthew Rhys, The Beast In Me
Outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie
TV Reviews A child disappears from a playdate and it's 'All Her Fault' in this gripping TV series Linda Cardellini, DTF St. LouisDakota Fanning, All Her FaultLaurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein StoryJoy Sunday, DTF St. LouisYoun Yuh-jung, BeefConstance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie
Television 'Baby Reindeer' creator Richard Gadd on his new show 'Half Man' and toxic masculinity Jason Bateman, DTF St. LouisRichard Gadd, Half ManDavid Harbour, DTF St. LouisRichard Jenkins, DTF St. LouisCharles Melton, BeefNick Offerman, Death by Lightning
Outstanding reality competition program
Pop Culture Happy Hour Every season of 'Survivor,' ranked worst to best, by NPR's resident superfan Dancing With the StarsRuPaul's Drag RaceSurvivorTop ChefThe Traitors
Outstanding variety series
For 20 years, Stephen Colbert distinguished truth from truthiness The Daily ShowJimmy Kimmel Live!Last Week Tonight With John OliverThe Late Show With Stephen ColbertSaturday Night Live
See the full list of nominees. Winners will be announced at the 78th Emmy Awards ceremony, hosted by Mariska Hargitay on Monday, Sept. 14 in Los Angeles.
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