For the first time in almost 20 years, the Emmy Awards are getting a major new category. The Television Academy announced the Emmy Legacy Award, a special honor for television shows that have made a deep and permanent mark on audiences and culture. This is the first award of its kind added since 2007 .
The award is designed to celebrate shows that are not just popular, but important. It looks at programs that have shaped television, started conversations, and stayed meaningful to viewers for years, or even decades. Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego said the award honors “groundbreaking programming” that has “stood the test of time” and features characters that appeal to multiple generations .
What Is the Emmy Legacy Award and Who Can Win?
The Legacy Award is different from a typical Emmy. Regular Emmys reward the best work from a single television season. The Legacy Award looks at a show’s entire history and its long-term effect on the world .
To even be considered for the Legacy Award, a TV series must pass two main tests. First, it must have a long run: a minimum of 60 episodes spread across at least five seasons. Second, and more importantly, the show must prove it has “continued or sustained relevance, influence or inspiration” . This means the show must still matter today. It might have changed a genre of TV, found new fans long after it ended, or made a real difference in society and culture .
A show can only receive the Legacy Award once, and if it’s part of a larger franchise—like multiple series in the same universe—the whole franchise is considered together .
“The Legacy Award celebrates groundbreaking programming — programs that have stood the test of time delivering stories that continue to engage audiences and featuring iconic and timeless characters with multigenerational appeal,” said Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego.
The award can go to shows that ended years ago or to series still producing new episodes. Academy President Maury McIntyre explained that it “absolutely can go to a show that’s still on the air, or it can go to a show that hasn’t been on the air in 30 years” . This opens the door for a wide range of television history to be recognized.
Which TV Shows Are Eligible for the New Emmy Award?
Based on the announced rules, hundreds of classic and modern shows are in the running. The criteria bring together shows from different eras and styles.
Ongoing, long-running hits that are still part of the cultural conversation are strong candidates. This includes medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, which is in its 22nd season, and the enduring police series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, now in its 27th year . Critically acclaimed comedies like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia also qualify .
The award also allows the Academy to look back and honor foundational shows that paved the way for others. Historic series like All in the Family, which tackled social issues in the 1970s, and influential comedies like Will & Grace are eligible . Landmark shows that were critically loved but perhaps overlooked by awards in their time, such as The Wire, are also in consideration based on fan and critic reactions to the announcement .
How Will the Legacy Award Winner Be Chosen?
The process for selecting the Legacy Award recipient is handled by a special group within the Television Academy. The Governors Award committee, which is being renamed the Special Awards Committee, will pick the candidate each year and present the choice to the Board of Governors for a final vote .
Nominations can come from within the Academy’s leadership, but the process also allows for suggestions from the wider industry and even the public. Individuals can propose a show by sending a letter to the Television Academy .
When a show wins, it will receive an engraved Emmy statuette, just like winners in other categories . The Television Academy has not decided yet if the Legacy Award will always be presented during the main Primetime Emmy telecast or at a related event like the Creative Arts Emmys ceremony. The location may change from year to year .
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Why the Emmy Awards Are Adding This Category Now
The creation of the Legacy Award marks a significant update to the Emmys. The last time a major award of this type was introduced was in 2007, with the Television Academy Honors award for programming that promotes social change .
This move signals a desire by the Television Academy to formally recognize television’s history and its most impactful stories. In an era with countless shows across broadcast, cable, and streaming, the award helps highlight programs that have truly defined the medium and left a lasting impression on viewers around the world .
The first Legacy Award could be presented as part of the 2026 Emmy Awards cycle. The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled for September 14, 2026, with the Creative Arts Emmys happening the weekend before . Nominations for the 2026 Emmys will be announced on July 8, 2026.
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