The television industry's elite gathered virtually on Wednesday for the 2026 Primetime Emmy nominations, with "The Pitt" securing a leading 25 nods. The comedy series "Hacks" set a new record for the most nominations in a single season for its genre, earning 24, while the freshman drama "Widow's Bay" received an impressive 19 nominations. The announcement also brought a mix of anticipated accolades and surprising omissions across various acting categories.
Despite past success, Jeremy Allen White was notably absent from the lead comedy actor race for his role in "The Bear." While the series garnered eight nominations, including outstanding comedy and a lead comedy actress nod for Ayo Edebiri, the rest of its ensemble cast, including past winners Liza Colón-Zayas and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, did not receive nominations.
In the drama categories, Chase Infiniti earned her first Emmy nomination for lead actress in a drama for her role in "The Testaments," a spinoff of "The Handmaid's Tale." This recognition follows an Oscar snub for her performance in "One Battle After Another."
"Industry" was another significant omission, with its entire cast overlooked for the fourth season, despite critical acclaim. Stars Myha'la, Ken Leung, Max Minghella, Kit Harington, and BAFTA winner Marisa Abela were all shut out, continuing the show's streak of zero Emmy nominations throughout its run.
Conversely, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II broke through with a lead drama actor nomination for his role in Marvel's "Wonder Man." This marks Marvel's first acting Emmy nomination since "WandaVision" in 2021. Abdul-Mateen II is a previous Emmy winner for his 2020 role in "Watchmen."
While Sarah Pidgeon secured a nomination for her portrayal of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in "Love Story," her co-star Paul Anthony Kelly was not nominated for his role as John F. Kennedy Jr. Kelly is slated to appear in "The Housemaid's Secret" with Sydney Sweeney and in the upcoming season of "American Horror Story."
Two guest actors from "The Pitt," Jeff Kober and Brittany Allen, earned nominations after self-submitting for consideration. Allen played a terminally ill patient, and Kober portrayed a friend of a doctor facing a dire diagnosis. This grassroots approach echoes past Emmy successes, such as the "Game of Thrones" cast members who secured nods in 2019 after self-submission. Other notable acting snubs included Kristen Bell and Adam Brody for "Nobody Wants This," Jon Hamm for "Your Friends & Neighbors," and Cailee Spaeny for "Beef."