Emmy Nominations 2026 Shocker: 'The Pitt' and 'Hacks' Dominate as Surprises and Snubs Rock the Race!

The 2026 Emmy nominations morning revealed a dynamic landscape of television achievement, marked by a blend of expected triumphs, surprising upsets, and notable snubs. The nominations set the stage for a highly anticipated ceremony on September 14, with voting concluding on August 26 for final rounds, and the Creative Arts Emmy Awards held on September 5 and 6. Several series, including the Canadian production “Heated Rivalry,” “Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat,” and “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,” were deemed ineligible due to their newness or specific Emmy co-production rules for foreign content.

HBO and its streaming counterpart HBO Max demonstrated significant dominance, collectively securing approximately 40% of the total Emmy nominations. Leading the drama category was “The Pitt” with an impressive 25 nominations, reinforcing its position as the reigning Emmy drama series champion. The critically acclaimed comedy “Hacks,” in its fifth and final season, made Emmy history by securing 24 nominations. This achievement established it as not only the most nominated final season of a comedy but also the most nominated season of any comedy series ever, surpassing previous records held by “The Bear” and “The Studio,” and eclipsing “Schitt’s Creek” for final season comedy nominations. Jean Smart, the series’ lead actress, garnered her 15th career Emmy nomination for her role as Deborah Vance. HBO’s nomination count was further bolstered by David Harbour’s drama “DTF St. Louis,” which received 13 mentions.

Netflix ranked second in overall nominations, with its anthology franchise “Beef” (second installment) earning 16 nominations and the limited series “The Beast in Me” receiving nine. The final season of “Stranger Things,” “Black Rabbit,” “The Diplomat,” and “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” each secured seven nominations. Apple TV achieved its best-ever showing with 89 nominations, largely attributed to the freshman series “Widow’s Bay” (19 nominations, competing in comedy heats) and the Rhea Seehorn-Vince Gilligan vehicle “Pluribus” (18 nominations). The Walt Disney Co. platforms collectively amassed 125 nominations, while NBCUniversal’s platforms garnered 90, with Universal Studio Group contributing 58, nearly half of which came from “Hacks,” and 11 from “Saturday Night Live.”

The morning brought several significant surprises. “Widow’s Bay” notably landed 19 nods despite its late-April launch and horror genre, surprisingly earning a coveted Best Drama Series nomination but no additional acting or below-the-line mentions. “Dancing with the Stars” successfully campaigned to secure a slot in the Reality Competition Program category for the first time in a decade, unseating perennial contender “The Amazing Race.” Ariana Madix received a nomination for her hosting role on “Love Island,” and “Summer House” secured an Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program nod.

Individual acting nominations also produced notable highlights and emotional moments. Rob Reiner received a posthumous Emmy nomination for his guest-star role as Albert Schnurr in FX’s “The Bear.” This marked his first acting nomination since 1978 and came after his passing on December 14. Michael J. Fox earned a guest actor in a comedy series nomination for his role on Apple TV’s “Shrinking,” a part he undertook after a five-year acting retirement, demonstrating his continued impact despite his Parkinson's diagnosis. Connor Storrie received his first Emmy nomination for his “Saturday Night Live” hosting gig, not for his breakout role in the ineligible “Heated Rivalry.”

Beyond traditional series, the “Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny” made history with nine nominations, making it the most-nominated Super Bowl halftime show in Emmy history. Taylor Swift earned her second Emmy nomination for “The Eras Tour: The Final Show” concert film, receiving multiple nods including for directing and technical direction. Sabrina Carpenter was also nominated for Disney’s “The Muppet Show.” Artisan nominations included Colleen Atwood for costume design, and composers Kris Bowers, Hans Zimmer, and Daniel Pemberton.

However, the nominations were not without their disappointments and high-profile snubs. Paul Anthony Kelly was overlooked for his lead performance in “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.” The final season of “Stranger Things” was conspicuously absent from Best Drama and main acting categories, despite receiving recognition in below-the-line fields. Outside of Zendaya and Colman Domingo, much of the star-studded “Euphoria” cast, including previously nominated Sydney Sweeney, was left behind. “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” despite its nine nominations including Outstanding Drama Series, was completely shut out of acting categories. “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat” saw a significant decline in nominations compared to its first season, securing only one for writing. Selena Gomez missed acting kudos for “Only Murders in the Building,” though she was nominated as an executive producer. Taylor Sheridan and Paramount+ had a disappointing year, with only a stunt nod for “Tulsa King,” and Michelle Pfeiffer’s “The Madison” and “Landman” receiving no recognition. The celebrated main cast of “The Bear,” including Jeremy Allen White, was largely ignored, with exceptions for Ayo Edebiri and a couple of guest star nods (including Reiner's). Ashley Padilla’s breakout year on “Saturday Night Live” also went unrecognized. Dropout, the comedy streaming service, failed to attract mainstream Emmy voter attention, and Jamie Bell missed a nod for “Half Man,” with only his co-star Richard Gadd earning a supporting acting nomination.

The final season of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” received nine Emmy nominations, marking its biggest awards showing in Colbert’s 11-year tenure, despite the show’s cancellation due to a “financial decision.” The outstanding variety series category saw a significant overhaul, merging former talk and scripted variety series. Under new rules, nominees now independently aim to clear a 90% “yes” vote threshold from Emmy voters to win, ensuring at least one winner even if no single nominee reaches the 90% bar. The Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled to air on September 14 on NBC.