The Television Academy announced Friday that several major categories, including Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, will be moved from the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards telecast to the Creative Arts Emmys. The Creative Arts ceremony, where these awards will be presented, takes place a week before the main event.
This shift will reduce the number of categories featured in the 2026 primetime telecast to 19, a decrease from the 26 categories televised in 2025. Other awards moving to the Creative Arts Emmys include Writing for a Variety Series, Directing for a Limited Series or Movie, and Writing for a Limited Series or Movie and Variety Special (Live).
The Television Academy cited the "extraordinary breadth of work recognized each year and the limited time available within a three-hour broadcast" as the reasons for the change. The Academy stated that this "thoughtful evolution" aims to ensure the ceremony remains "deeply engaging and tailored to the television audience."
The Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Limited Series or Movie categories often feature prominent stars. Nominees in these categories for the upcoming awards include actors such as Richard Gadd for "Half Man," Jason Bateman and David Harbour for "What If...?," Dakota Fanning for "All Her Fault," Laurie Metcalf for "Monster: The Ed Gein Story," and Youn Yuh-jung for "Beef."
Notable programs leading in nominations for the 2026 awards include "The Pitt" with 25 nominations, "Hacks" with 24, and Apple TV's "Widow's Bay" with 19 nominations.
The Creative Arts Emmys are scheduled for September 5 and 6. The 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay and will air on September 14, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.