The 78th Emmy Awards, celebrating the best television from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, will be broadcast live on NBC on Sept. 14. HBO Max's "The Pitt" leads the nominations with 25, followed by "Hacks" with 24 comedy nods and "Beef" with 16 for limited series.
Viewing the Ceremony
The ceremony is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET. For those without cable, the Emmys can be streamed for free by utilizing a free trial of a live TV streaming service. DIRECTV offers a five-day free trial, with NBC included in its "MyNews" and "MySports" genre packs. For viewers wanting to catch the red carpet coverage, the "MyEntertainment + MyNews Genre Pack" includes both E! and NBC.
Last weekend's Creative Arts Emmys saw the freshman series "Widow's Bay" secure eight wins, leading all shows. The Matthew Rhys-led supernatural comedy garnered 19 nominations overall.
Special Awards and Honorees
This year's Bob Hope Humanitarian Award will be presented to Michael J. Fox. This special award recognizes individuals in the television community whose philanthropic work embodies Bob Hope's legacy of altruism. Fox, an advocate for Parkinson's disease research, also received an Emmy-nominated guest performance for his role in "Shrinking" last year.
Hosting and Presenters
Mariska Hargitay, a recent Emmy winner for her documentary "My Mom Jayne," will host the 2026 Emmy Awards. She is the first woman to host the ceremony in 15 years and the first non-comedian host since Angela Lansbury in 1993.
A list of presenters includes Zendaya, Matthew McConaughey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Shailene Woodley, Linda Cardellini, David Harbour, Jon Hamm, Alan Cumming, Sally Field, Florence Pugh, Amy Poehler, Woody Harrelson, John Mulaney, and Emmy Rossum. Special presentations will mark the 30th anniversary of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," with David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar, and the 50th anniversary of "Charlie's Angels," with Kate Jackson, Cheryl Ladd, and Jaclyn Smith.
Top Emmy Nominations for 2026:
Outstanding Comedy Series
- "Abbott Elementary" (ABC)
- "The Bear" (FX)
- "Hacks" (HBO Max)
- "Margo’s Got Money Troubles" (Apple TV)
- "Nobody Wants This" (Netflix)
- "Only Murders in the Building" (Hulu)
- "Shrinking" (Apple TV)
- "Widow’s Bay" (Apple TV)
Outstanding Drama Series
- "The Diplomat" (Netflix)
- "The Gilded Age" (HBO)
- "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" (HBO)
- "Paradise" (Hulu)
- "The Pitt" (HBO Max)
- "Pluribus" (Apple TV)
- "Slow Horses" (Apple TV)
- "Your Friends & Neighbors" (Apple TV)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
- "All Her Fault" (Peacock)
- "The Beast in Me" (Netflix)
- "Beef" (Netflix)
- "DTF St. Louis" (HBO)
- "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette" (FX)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – "Wonder Man"
- Steve Carell – "Rooster"
- Matthew Rhys – "Widow’s Bay"
- Jason Segel – "Shrinking"
- Martin Short – "Only Murders in the Building"
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
- Quinta Brunson – "Abbott Elementary"
- Ayo Edebiri – "The Bear"
- Elle Fanning – "Margo’s Got Money Troubles"
- Lisa Kudrow – "The Comeback"
- Jean Smart – "Hacks"
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
- Sterling K. Brown – "Paradise"
- Gary Oldman – "Slow Horses"
- Mark Ruffalo – "Task"
- Rufus Sewell – "The Diplomat"
- Noah Wyle – "The Pitt"
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
- Carrie Coon – "The Gilded Age"
- Chase Infiniti – "The Testaments"
- Keri Russell – "The Diplomat"
- Rhea Seehorn – "Pluribus"
- Zendaya – "Euphoria"
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Riz Ahmed – "Bait"
- Jason Bateman – "Black Rabbit"
- Charlie Hunnam – "Monster: The Ed Gein Story"
- Oscar Isaac – "Beef"
- Matthew Rhys – "The Beast in Me"
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Claire Danes – "The Beast in Me"
- Sally Field – "Remarkably Bright Creatures"
- Carey Mulligan – "Beef"
- Sarah Pidgeon – "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette"
- Sarah Snook – "All Her Fault"