Los Angeles | July 9, 2026 — The race for television’s highest honors officially began on Wednesday after the Television Academy unveiled the nominations for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, with HBO Max’s acclaimed medical drama The Pitt emerging as the biggest contender of the year. The series secured an industry-leading 25 nominations, narrowly ahead of the final season of the comedy Hacks, which earned 24 nominations, setting the stage for one of the most competitive Emmy races in recent years.
The nominations were announced in Los Angeles by previous Emmy winners Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller, celebrating a television season that featured both returning award favorites and ambitious newcomers. This year’s ceremony is scheduled to take place on September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on NBC while streaming on Peacock. Actress Mariska Hargitay will host the Emmys for the first time.
The Pitt Emerges as the Year’s Biggest Success
Leading the field is The Pitt, HBO Max’s hospital drama centered on emergency room physicians in Pittsburgh. Besides earning a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, the show received widespread recognition across acting, directing and writing categories.
Star Noah Wyle, who also serves as an executive producer, received another nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, while several supporting and guest cast members also earned recognition, underscoring the ensemble strength of the series. According to the Television Academy’s nominations, the drama collected nominations across multiple performance categories, making it the most nominated program of the year.
Wyle described the achievement as a tribute to the entire production team, saying the show’s success reflected the collective work of its cast and crew rather than any individual accomplishment.
Hacks Continues Its Award-Winning Legacy
Comedy powerhouse Hacks maintained its dominance with 24 nominations, making it one of the most celebrated comedy series in Emmy history. The final season received recognition in major categories, including Outstanding Comedy Series, while veteran actress Jean Smart earned another nomination for her acclaimed performance.
Industry observers noted that Hacks has consistently been among the strongest performers during recent Emmy seasons, and this year’s nominations further cement its legacy as one of television’s defining modern comedies.
Apple TV+ Makes Strongest Emmy Showing Yet
One of the biggest stories from this year’s nominations was the impressive performance by Apple TV+ productions.
Science-fiction drama Pluribus collected 18 nominations, including a coveted spot in the Outstanding Drama Series category, while comedy newcomer Widow’s Bay secured 19 nominations, becoming one of the breakout hits of the awards season.
The strong showing marked one of Apple TV+’s most successful Emmy campaigns to date, highlighting the platform’s growing influence in prestige television.
Outstanding Drama Series Field Features Diverse Contenders
The competition for Outstanding Drama Series includes a mix of returning favorites and fresh entries:
- The Pitt
- The Diplomat
- The Gilded Age
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
- Paradise
- Pluribus
- Slow Horses
- Your Friends & Neighbors
The category reflects the growing diversity of premium television storytelling across streaming platforms and traditional studios.
Comedy Race Packed With Familiar Favorites
The comedy competition remains equally competitive.
Nominees for Outstanding Comedy Series include:
- Hacks
- Abbott Elementary
- The Bear
- Only Murders in the Building
- Shrinking
- Widow’s Bay
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- The Four Seasons
Several returning Emmy winners will compete alongside first-time nominees, making the category one of the most closely watched on awards night.
Acting Categories Blend Veterans and New Faces
This year’s acting nominations feature several Emmy veterans alongside emerging performers.
Among the nominees for Lead Actor in a Drama Series are:
- Noah Wyle (The Pitt)
- Sterling K. Brown (Paradise)
- Mark Ruffalo (Task)
- Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)
- Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat)
The Lead Actress in a Drama Series category includes:
- Zendaya (Euphoria)
- Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age)
- Keri Russell (The Diplomat)
- Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus)
- Chase Infiniti (The Testaments)
Comedy acting categories also feature established stars including Jean Smart, Quinta Brunson, Harrison Ford, Paul W. Downs and Ayo Edebiri.
Limited Series Category Remains Highly Competitive
The Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series race includes several acclaimed productions:
- Beef
- All Her Fault
- DTF St. Louis
- The Beast in Me
- Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Claire Danes and Sarah Snook are among the notable performers recognized in the limited series acting categories.
Historic and Notable Moments
This year’s nominations also produced several milestones.
Natural historian David Attenborough, now 100 years old, became the oldest Emmy nominee in the awards’ history. Meanwhile, several industry observers highlighted the unexpectedly limited recognition for Stranger Things, which largely received nominations in technical categories despite its popularity.
Another surprise came in the comedy acting race, where The Bear star Jeremy Allen White was absent from the Lead Actor nominations despite the series earning recognition elsewhere.
Television Landscape Reflects Changing Viewing Habits
The 2026 Emmy nominations illustrate how streaming services continue to dominate prestige television. HBO Max, Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu and FX secured the majority of nominations across the major categories, reflecting the industry’s continued shift toward streaming-first programming.
Medical dramas, workplace comedies, political thrillers and anthology storytelling all enjoyed strong representation, demonstrating the wide range of genres currently resonating with Emmy voters.
Looking Ahead to Emmy Night
With The Pitt leading the nominations and Hacks close behind, this year’s Emmy Awards promise a fiercely contested competition across drama, comedy and limited series categories. Newcomers such as Pluribus and Widow’s Bay will attempt to challenge established favorites, while performers including Noah Wyle, Jean Smart, Zendaya and Sterling K. Brown will compete for television’s highest acting honors.
As the television industry prepares for its biggest night on September 14, the nominations highlight another year marked by ambitious storytelling, strong ensemble performances and increasing competition among major streaming platforms. Whether established Emmy champions retain their dominance or newcomers emerge victorious will be decided when the Television Academy’s winners are announced later this year.