The nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards have officially been announced, setting up a major awards-season battle between acclaimed dramas, comedies and limited series. Emmy winners Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller joined Television Academy chair Cris Abrego to announce the nominees on July 8, 2026. The Pitt emerged as the most-nominated program of the year with 25 nominations, while Hacks earned 24 nominations and set a new record for the most comedy nominations in a single awards year. Beef also emerged as one of the prominent limited-series contenders, while The Bear, Shrinking, Slow Horses, The Diplomat and several other popular shows secured recognition across major categories. The 78th Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE. The ceremony will air live on NBC at 8 PM ET and 5 PM PT and stream on Peacock.
The Pitt and Hacks dominate Emmy nominations
The Pitt leads the 2026 Emmy field with 25 nominations, including recognition in the Outstanding Drama Series category and multiple acting categories. The drama will compete against The Gilded Age, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Pluribus, Slow Horses, Your Friends & Neighbors and The Diplomat for the top drama prize. In comedy, Hacks enters the awards race with 24 nominations. The Outstanding Comedy Series category also includes Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Shrinking, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Widow’s Bay, Nobody Wants This and Only Murders in the Building. The Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series category features All Her Fault, The Beast in Me, Beef, DTF St. Louis and Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.
Major Emmy Awards 2026 nominations
Outstanding reality competition program
Dancing With the Stars
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Survivor
Top Chef
The Traitors
Outstanding variety series
The Daily Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Saturday Night Live
Outstanding limited or anthology series
All Her Fault
The Beast in Me
Beef
DTF St. Louis
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie
Riz Ahmed — Bait
Jason Bateman — Black Rabbit
Charlie Hunnam — Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Oscar Isaac — Beef
Matthew Rhys — The Beast in Me
Outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie
Claire Danes — The Beast in Me
Sally Field — Remarkably Bright Creatures
Carey Mulligan — Beef
Sarah Pidgeon — Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Sarah Snook — All Her Fault
Outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie
Jason Bateman — DTF St. Louis
Richard Gadd — Half Man
David Harbour — DTF St. Louis
Richard Jenkins — DTF St. Louis
Charles Melton — Beef
Nick Offerman — Death by Lightning
Outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie
Linda Cardellini — DTF St. Louis
Dakota Fanning — All Her Fault
Laurie Metcalf — Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Joy Sunday — DTF St. Louis
Youn Yuh-jung — Beef
Constance Zimmer — Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Comedy acting categories feature major stars
The comedy acting nominations bring together established Emmy favourites and fresh contenders. Jean Smart will compete again for Hacks, while Ayo Edebiri represents The Bear in the lead actress category. Quinta Brunson, Elle Fanning and Lisa Kudrow are also in the race.
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series
Quinta Brunson — Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri — The Bear
Elle Fanning — Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Lisa Kudrow — The Comeback
Jean Smart — Hacks
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II — Wonder Man
Steve Carell — Rooster
Matthew Rhys — Widow’s Bay
Jason Segel — Shrinking
Martin Short — Only Murders in the Building
Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series
Colman Domingo — The Four Seasons
Paul W. Downs — Hacks
Harrison Ford — Shrinking
Nick Offerman — Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Stephen Root — Widow’s Bay
Michael Urie — Shrinking
Tyler James Williams — Abbott Elementary
Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series
Dale Dickey — Widow’s Bay
Hannah Einbinder — Hacks
Janelle James — Abbott Elementary
Kate O’Flynn — Widow’s Bay
Michelle Pfeiffer — Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Megan Stalter — Hacks
Jessica Williams — Shrinking
Outstanding guest actor in a comedy series
Michael J. Fox — Shrinking
Brett Goldstein — Shrinking
Hamish Linklater — Widow’s Bay
Christopher McDonald — Hacks
Rob Reiner — The Bear
Connor Storrie — Saturday Night Live
Outstanding guest actress in a comedy series
Leslie Bibb — Hacks
Jamie Lee Curtis — The Bear
Betty Gilpin — Widow’s Bay
Cherry Jones — Hacks
Laurie Metcalf — Hacks
Kaitlin Olson — Hacks
Lauren Weedman — Hacks
Emmy ceremony set for September 14
The 2026 nominations feature both returning Emmy favourites and a significant group of newcomers. According to the Television Academy, 28 first-time nominees were recognized across the performing categories this year. With The Pitt leading the overall field and Hacks dominating the comedy race, attention will now shift toward the final round of voting and the awards ceremony. Beef remains a major contender in the limited-series categories, while The Bear, Shrinking and Abbott Elementary will be looking to challenge Hacks in comedy-related races. The 78th Emmy Awards will take place on Monday, September 14, 2026, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards are scheduled for September 5 and September 6, ahead of the main ceremony.
