The 78th Primetime Emmy Award nominations arrived on July 8, and they brought a mix of expected winners and genuine shockers. HBO Max’s medical drama ‘The Pitt’ came out on top with a massive 25 nominations, while comedy series ‘Hacks’ set a new record with 24 nods. But the real story lies in who got left behind. Netflix barely registered in the top categories, and Taylor Sheridan’s hit shows were almost completely ignored. The nominations also delivered some pleasant surprises, with first-year Apple TV+ series ‘Widow’s Bay’ and ‘Pluribus’ earning strong showings.
The Television Academy announced the nominees on July 8 at 11:30 a.m. ET, with hosts Liza Colón-Zayas (‘The Bear’) and Jeff Hiller (‘Somebody Somewhere’) revealing the list. The ceremony will take place on September 14 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, airing live on NBC and Peacock with Mariska Hargitay hosting. Hargitay becomes the first woman to host the Emmys solo in 15 years.
‘The Pitt’ Rules the Drama Category With 25 Nominations
‘The Pitt’ emerged as the undeniable leader of this year’s nominations. The HBO Max medical drama, set in the emergency room of a fictional Pittsburgh hospital, received 25 nominations in total. This nearly doubles what the show earned for its first season. The series is up for Outstanding Drama Series and collected 13 acting nominations.
The cast dominated the supporting categories. Shawn Hatosy, who won best guest actor last year, moved up to supporting actor and secured a nomination. He faces competition from co-stars Patrick Ball and Gerran Howell in the same category. Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, and Sepideh Moafi received their first nominations for best supporting actress.
Two guest stars took an unusual path to their nominations. Brittany Allen and Jeff Kober each appeared as ER patients in Season 2 and submitted their own work for consideration. Both actors won Daytime Emmys earlier in their careers for ‘All My Children’ and ‘General Hospital’.
The show’s real-time storytelling format, with each episode covering one hour of a 15-hour shift, has resonated with both critics and audiences. Beyond medical drama, the series tackles social issues like immigration, abortion, gun violence, and healthcare system problems. Noah Wyle is nominated for lead actor and is seen as a strong contender.
‘Hacks’ Makes Emmy History With 24 Comedy Nominations
‘Hacks’ broke records with 24 nominations for its fifth season. This is the most nominations ever for a comedy series in a single Emmy season. The show surpassed the previous record of 23 nominations held by ‘The Bear’ (2024) and ‘The Studio’ (2025).
Jean Smart is nominated again for Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy. If she wins, she will earn her fifth Emmy for the role and her eighth overall. That would put her in a tie for the most Emmy acting wins in history. The show’s final season is also competing for Outstanding Comedy Series and other major categories.
Apple TV+ Makes a Strong Statement With Newcomers
Apple TV+ had a remarkable year with two first-year shows earning major recognition. ‘Widow’s Bay’ received 19 nominations, including a spot in the drama series category. The horror comedy, starring Matthew Rhys, blends supernatural elements with humor and mystery. The show premiered late in the Emmy consideration cycle, which often makes it harder to gain attention. But the buzz around the series proved unstoppable.
‘Pluribus’ followed closely with 18 nominations. The twisty drama also secured a place in the Outstanding Drama Series category. These two shows helped Apple TV+ score 89 nominations overall, the most the streamer has ever received.
Netflix’s Quiet Year in Major Categories
Despite having the second-most total nominations among all networks and streamers, Netflix struggled in the top categories. The streamer did not receive nominations for drama or comedy series. ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Euphoria’, both previous Emmy favorites, were absent from this year’s list.
The one bright spot for Netflix came in the limited series category. ‘Beef’ led with 16 nominations in the limited or anthology series categories. The anthology’s new cast, including Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, and Charles Melton, all received nominations.
This shift suggests the Emmys are moving away from big-budget productions and star-studded shows. Instead, voters appear to prefer shows with strong storytelling and well-developed characters.
Biggest Snubs: Jeremy Allen White, Taylor Sheridan Shows, and ‘Half Man’
Jeremy Allen White from ‘The Bear’ did not receive a nomination for comedy lead actor. The show itself earned a comedy series nomination, but only Ayo Edebiri joined the list of acting nominees from the cast. Past winners White, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Ebon Moss-Bacharach were all left out.
Taylor Sheridan’s television empire was almost completely shut out. Despite the popularity of shows like ‘Landman’ and ‘The Madison’, the Emmys gave Sheridan only one nomination: a stunt coordination nod for ‘Tulsa King’. Industry observers note that Sheridan has openly criticized the Television Academy and its voters. One expert told Fox News Digital: “Despite rave reviews for ‘Landman’ and ‘Madison,’ the Emmys have once again totally shut these Taylor Sheridan shows out of any contention.”
‘Half Man’ also failed to earn significant recognition. The limited series, created by Richard Gadd, received only a few nominations. Critics expressed surprise that Jamie Bell was overlooked. Some voters reportedly found the show’s brutal look at male rage difficult to watch.
Adam Brody and Kristen Bell from ‘Nobody Wants This’ were also snubbed in the comedy lead actor and actress categories. ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’, the Jon Hamm-led Apple crime drama, received only one nomination for its second season—for drama series—with no acting nods.
Surprises: ‘The Bear’ Returns, ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Ends Drought
‘The Bear’ earned a comedy series nomination despite complaints about slower pacing in its final season. The show dropped its final season just three days after voting ended. Many expected the series to lose momentum, but voters kept it in the race.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ returned to the reality competition category after a ten-year absence. The show’s nomination pushed out ‘The Amazing Race’, which had been a mainstay in the category.
Riz Ahmed surprised many with a nomination for ‘Bait’ in the limited series lead actor category. Ahmed created, wrote, and produced the series about a struggling actor caught in James Bond rumors. His comedic timing and vulnerability connected with voters.
‘DTF St. Louis’ earned multiple acting nominations, including nods for Richard Jenkins and Joy Sunday in supporting roles. The show also received 13 nominations overall.
Chase Infiniti from ‘The Testaments’ earned a surprise nomination for drama lead actress. The show also landed a spot in the drama series category.
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ made an unexpected entry into the Outstanding Drama category. The series, based on George R.R. Martin’s work, joins heavyweights like ‘The Diplomat’ and ‘The Gilded Age’.
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The acting categories feature many returning stars. Zendaya received another nomination for ‘Euphoria’. Keri Russell, Rhea Seehorn, Gary Oldman, Sterling K. Brown, and Mark Ruffalo are also among the nominees. Martin Short and Quinta Brunson continue their runs in the comedy categories.
Connor Storrie received his first Emmy nomination, though not for the show most people expected. The nomination reflects the Academy’s willingness to recognize new faces alongside established stars.
Sally Field earned recognition for her role in ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’. The nomination adds to her already impressive awards history.
The 2026 Emmy nominations show a Television Academy that values storytelling and character development over spectacle and star power. The dominance of ‘The Pitt’ and ‘Hacks’, along with the strong showings from Apple TV+ newcomers, signals a shift in what voters consider award-worthy television. The ceremony on September 14 will reveal whether these nominations translate into wins.
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