The 2026 Emmy Award nominations have been announced, with HBO Max’s The Pitt emerging as the year’s most nominated television series after collecting 25 nominations. The medical drama narrowly finished ahead of the comedy Hacks, which earned 24 nominations, setting a new record for the most Emmy nominations received by a comedy series in a single year. Apple TV+’s supernatural mystery Widow’s Bay followed with 19 nominations, making it the most nominated freshman series of the year.

The nominations were unveiled during a live ceremony from the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center, with previous Emmy winners Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller announcing the majority of this year’s contenders. The first two categories—Outstanding Variety Series and Outstanding Reality Competition Program—had been revealed earlier on NBC’s Today.

Beyond the leading trio, several other productions posted strong performances across multiple categories. Pluribus received 18 nominations, while Netflix’s Beef collected 16. Comedy series DTF St. Louis followed with 13 nominations, and both Saturday Night Live and Spider-Noir finished with 11 nominations each.

The nominations also reflected another dominant year for HBO Max, which led all television networks and streaming platforms with 122 total nominations. The platform’s success was driven by strong performances from The Pitt, Hacks, documentaries, limited series, and several craft categories.

One of the biggest stories of nomination morning centered on The Pitt. Already praised throughout its first season, the hospital drama strengthened its position as an awards frontrunner by surpassing every other series in total nominations. Its 25 nominations were further boosted by guest acting nods for Brittany Allen and Jeff Kober, both of whom successfully secured nominations through self-submissions after initially being left off HBO Max’s official Emmy campaign.

Meanwhile, Hacks continued its remarkable awards momentum. The veteran comedy’s 24 nominations established a new Emmy benchmark for a comedy series in a single year, reflecting widespread recognition across acting, writing, directing, technical, and production categories.

For newcomers, Widow’s Bay enjoyed an impressive debut awards season. Its 19 nominations made it the highest-performing first-year series, signaling a strong breakthrough for the Apple TV+ production.

The Television Academy also confirmed a significant scheduling change ahead of this year’s ceremony. While nominations had originally been planned across two separate announcement dates, the Academy decided to reveal every category on July 8 instead. The adjustment was made to better accommodate Emmy campaign schedules during the final phase of awards season.

The 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay, who becomes the first host in nearly two decades whose career is primarily associated with dramatic acting rather than comedy. Hargitay is best known for portraying Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU, a role that earned her an Emmy Award in 2006 and helped establish one of television’s longest-running drama series.

Hargitay also enters this year’s awards race as a nominee herself. Her HBO documentary My Mom Jayne, which explores the life and legacy of her mother, actress Jayne Mansfield, received three Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Cinematography.

The television industry’s awards season now moves into its final voting phase before winners are announced. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which recognize technical and behind-the-scenes achievements, are scheduled for September 5 and 6. The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will follow on September 14, airing live on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

With The Pitt leading the field, Hacks setting a comedy record, and Widow’s Bay emerging as the standout newcomer, the 2026 Emmy race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive television awards seasons in recent years.

Source: Compiled from various sources.