Emmy Nominations 2026 ‘The Pitt’ and ‘Hacks’ Lead the Pack with Breakout Shows Close Behind

Award season never fails to deliver surprises, and this year’s Emmy nominations are no different. Announced Wednesday morning from the TV Academy’s Saban Media Center in Los Angeles, the nominations set the stage for what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive ceremonies in recent memory.

The morning kicked off with two categories revealed live on the Today show, with past winners Liza Colón Zayas and Jeff Hiller presenting. By the end of the announcements, a clear hierarchy among this year’s contenders had emerged.

Leading the charge was ‘The Pitt,’ which garnered a remarkable 25 nominations, solidifying HBO Max’s medical drama as the season’s standout. Close behind was the network’s own ‘Hacks,’ which received 24 nominations for its fifth season, setting a new record for the most nominations ever achieved by a comedy series in a single year.

This new record surpasses the previous high of 23 nominations, previously held by ‘The Bear’ and ‘The Studio.’ Star Jean Smart is now in a position to potentially win her fifth Emmy for ‘Hacks’ and her eighth overall, a total that would tie her for the most acting wins by an actress in Emmy history.

Following these two frontrunners, Apple TV’s debut horror comedy ‘Widow’s Bay’ surged to 19 nominations, the highest for any new series this year, thanks to a surge of late-season buzz during the Emmy campaign. Another Apple TV newcomer, ‘Pluribus,’ the post-apocalyptic drama from ‘Breaking Bad’ creator Vince Gilligan, secured 18 nominations, including a lead actress nod for star Rhea Seehorn.

In the top tier, Netflix’s second season of ‘Beef’ led all limited series contenders with 16 nominations, while HBO Max’s ‘DTF St. Louis’ received 13. NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ and Amazon’s ‘Spider Noir’ tied for the next spot with 11 nominations each, and a group of shows including ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,’ ‘Fallout,’ and ‘The Beast in Me’ each received nine nominations.

The announcement also highlighted some notable snubs. Both Kristen Bell and Adam Brody were overlooked for nominations for the second season of ‘Nobody Wants This,’ despite earning nods for the show’s debut run. Additionally, ‘Euphoria’ star Sydney Sweeney was not recognized for the series’ third and final season, despite a previous nomination. ‘The Bear’ star Jeremy Allen White also missed out this year.

Streaming platforms continue to reshape the competitive landscape, with HBO Max leading all networks and platforms with 122 total nominations, followed by Netflix with 111 and Apple TV with 87. Among traditional broadcast networks, ABC topped the field with 40 nominations.

This year’s ceremony will feature a notable format change, as eligible episodes for consideration ran from June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026, leaving some high-profile shows outside the nominations. Final round voting will take place from August 17 through August 26, ahead of the ceremony itself.

The 78th Emmy Awards are scheduled to air on September 14, with ‘Law and Order Special Victims Unit’ star Mariska Hargitay hosting, marking the first time in fifteen years that a woman has taken on hosting duties for the ceremony.

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