The Emmy nominations 2026 list is led by The Pitt and Hacks, while Widow’s Bay, Pluribus, and Beef enter the race with major recognition.
Emmy Nominations 2026 Put New Favorites Beside Established Hits
The 2026 Emmy race has a clear group of early front-runners. The Pitt leads all programs with 25 nominations, while Hacks made comedy history with 24.
Several newer series also broke through. Widow’s Bay earned 19 nominations, followed by Pluribus with 18, Beef with 16, and DTF St. Louis with 13. The mix gives this year’s ceremony a balance of familiar nominees, first-time contenders, and rising stars. Yahoo
The Pitt Leads the Overall Field
The Pitt enters the ceremony as the most nominated program of the year, receiving 25 total nominations.
The medical drama’s strong showing includes recognition for Noah Wyle in the lead actor category and multiple supporting performers. The show’s nominations reflect its ensemble approach, which gives both major storylines and supporting characters room to develop.
Its strongest competition in the drama categories includes The Diplomat, Pluribus, Paradise, Slow Horses, and Task. The lead actor race features Wyle alongside Sterling K. Brown, Gary Oldman, Mark Ruffalo, and Rufus Sewell. Yahoo
Hacks Sets a Comedy Record
Max comedy Hacks received 24 nominations, the highest total ever recorded for a comedy series, according to the nomination report.
Jean Smart is nominated for lead actress, while Paul W. Downs appears in three categories for his work as a performer, writer, and producer. The show’s recognition reflects its ability to compete across acting, writing, and production fields rather than relying on a single standout performance.
The comedy series category also includes Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, Shrinking, and Widow’s Bay. Yahoo
Widow’s Bay Becomes a Major New Contender
Widow’s Bay is one of the year’s biggest surprises. The newcomer collected 19 nominations, placing it ahead of several established programs.
Matthew Rhys received two nominations connected to the series—one for acting and another for producing. Stephen Root was recognized in the supporting actor category, strengthening the show’s profile in the comedy race.
The program also benefited from strong early awards momentum. It received eight Creative Arts Emmy wins before the main ceremony, the highest total among the programs highlighted in the report. Yahoo
Pluribus and Beef Expand the Drama Conversation
Apple TV’s Pluribus earned 18 nominations, including a lead actress nomination for Rhea Seehorn. The series joins The Pitt, Paradise, The Diplomat, and Slow Horses in the drama conversation.
Beef also performed strongly with 16 nominations. Carey Mulligan earned two nominations connected to the project, including recognition for both acting and producing. The series is represented in the limited or anthology category, where it competes against All Her Fault, The Beast in Me, DTF St. Louis, and Love Story. Yahoo
Jason Bateman Has an Especially Busy Year
Jason Bateman earned four nominations across two projects.
He received two nominations for HBO’s DTF St. Louis, including one for acting and another for producing. He also earned recognition for Netflix’s Black Rabbit, where he starred and directed.
The multiple nominations make Bateman one of the ceremony’s most versatile contenders. His showing also illustrates how performers increasingly move between acting, directing, and producing roles within the same awards season.
Several Familiar Names Return to the Race
The 2026 nominations include a mix of past winners, long-established performers, and first-time nominees.
Quinta Brunson received three nominations for her work on Abbott Elementary, spanning acting, writing, and producing. Matthew Rhys also earned multiple recognitions, while Keri Russell returned to the lead drama actress race for The Diplomat.
Carey Mulligan received her first Emmy nominations, including recognition for Beef. Sisters Elle and Dakota Fanning also made headlines: Elle was nominated as a performer and producer for Margo’s Got Money Troubles, while Dakota received acting recognition for All Her Fault and a producing nomination tied to Margo’s Got Money Troubles. Yahoo
Where and When to Watch the 2026 Emmys
The 78th Emmy Awards will air live from Los Angeles on September 14 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. NBC will broadcast the ceremony, and Peacock will stream it online.
Mariska Hargitay will host. The Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star is the first woman to host the ceremony in 15 years. Her HBO documentary My Mom Jayne, about her mother Jayne Mansfield, received three nominations and won two Creative Arts Emmys. Yahoo
The Main Emmy Storylines to Follow
This year’s ceremony will answer several major questions:
- Can The Pitt convert its leading nomination total into the night’s biggest haul?
- Will Hacks add major wins to its record-setting comedy nomination count?
- Can Widow’s Bay turn its newcomer momentum into victories?
- Will first-time Emmy nominees such as Carey Mulligan take home trophies?
- Which network or streaming service will dominate the final results?
The Emmy nominations 2026 lineup suggests a competitive night. Long-running favorites remain in the mix, but new programs have claimed enough attention to make the major categories difficult to predict.
