Emmy Awards 2026: Who’s Favored to Win Tonight and Why ‘Heated Rivalry’ Was Shut Out

Television’s biggest night has arrived, bringing together the industry’s top shows and performers to discover who will take home this year’s most prestigious awards. This year’s ceremony has moved from its traditional Sunday slot to Monday to avoid clashing with an NFL broadcast on NBC, creating a slightly different atmosphere than fans are accustomed to.

Mariska Hargitay, the Emmy-winning star of ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,’ is hosting for the first time, marking the first time in fifteen years that a woman has taken on this role. The ceremony will be broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with ‘The Pitt’ leading the nominations with an impressive 25 nods, closely followed by the final season of ‘Hacks’ with 24. Other notable contenders include newcomers ‘Widow’s Bay’ with 19 nominations, ‘Pluribus’ with 18, ‘Beef’ with 16, and ‘DTF St. Louis’ with 13.

However, one of the year’s most talked-about shows is missing from the nominations entirely. ‘Heated Rivalry,’ the hockey romance that garnered a passionate fanbase this year, received no nominations, a situation attributed not to its quality but to eligibility rules. The show was produced and financed solely by Canadian companies, which disqualifies it as a foreign production under the current Primetime Emmys’ regulations for domestic television.

Fans disappointed by this shutout can find a small silver lining. Co-lead Connor Storrie still received an Emmy nomination this year, though not for ‘Heated Rivalry.’ His guest hosting stint on ‘Saturday Night Live’ earned him a nod in a different category, allowing the show’s breakout star to have a presence at the ceremony despite his series not being in contention.

The outstanding drama series category is particularly competitive this year, with ‘The Pitt’ returning to defend its title from last year while already racking up nominations for its second season. It faces tough competition from ‘Pluribus,’ ‘Slow Horses,’ ‘The Diplomat,’ ‘The Gilded Age,’ ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,’ ‘Paradise,’ and ‘Your Friends & Neighbors.’

The acting categories are equally competitive, featuring nominated performers like Zendaya, Noah Wyle, Sarah Snook, and Colman Domingo, each representing shows that have created significant buzz during the eligibility period. Interestingly, the final seasons of both ‘Euphoria’ and ‘Stranger Things’ received noticeably fewer nominations than anticipated, highlighting that even beloved long-running series can struggle in their concluding seasons.

For ‘Hacks,’ this year’s 24 nominations set a new record for a comedy series in its final season, surpassing the previous record held by ‘The Bear’ and ‘The Studio’ last year. This late-season success positions the show strongly heading into several major categories, even as new contenders like ‘Widow’s Bay’ and ‘Pluribus’ continue to gain momentum.

With a mix of first-time nominees and established favorites, tonight’s ceremony promises unpredictability in the major categories. Whether ‘The Pitt’ can defend its drama win or a newcomer breaks through, this year’s Emmys are set to celebrate a diverse array of television’s finest work, snubs and eligibility quirks included.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.