The nominations for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards dropped on July 8, and if the lineup is anything to go by, this September’s ceremony is going to be one to watch. From a record-breaking comedy run to a medical drama that just refuses to slow down, here’s everything you need to know about who’s in the race — and a few of the surprises the Television Academy threw at us.
The Numbers That Tell the Story
Leading the pack this year is The Pitt, HBO Max’s intense, real-time hospital drama, which racked up an impressive 25 nominations. Hot on its heels is Hacks, also on HBO Max, with 24 — a record for a comedy series in a single year, edging past the 23 that The Studio pulled in just last year. New show Widow’s Bay made the strongest debut of any newcomer, landing 19 nominations, followed by Pluribus (18), Beef (16), DTF St. Louis (13), and both Saturday Night Live and Spider-Noir with 11 each.
As a platform, HBO Max absolutely dominated, leading all networks and streaming services with a staggering 122 nominations total.
Drama: The Pitt Keeps Its Crown
After winning Outstanding Drama Series at last year’s Emmys, The Pitt is looking like the one to beat again. The show has earned acting recognition across the board, with Ernest Harden Jr. picking up a supporting nod among others. Sterling K. Brown is also in the drama conversation for his work on Paradise, while Zendaya and Colman Domingo both received acting nominations for Euphoria — even though the show itself was snubbed in the top drama category after what many considered a divisive final season. A bit of a bitter pill for fans, but the individual performances clearly left their mark on voters.
Comedy: A Legendary Face-Off Is Coming
The most talked-about storyline in the comedy categories is shaping up to be an all-out battle between two television legends. Jean Smart is in contention for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy for her role as Deborah Vance in the final season of Hacks — a show she has already won four Emmys for. Standing in her way? None other than Lisa Kudrow, nominated for her return in The Comeback. Kudrow’s only Emmy win to date is a 1998 supporting nod for playing Phoebe in Friends, so a win here would be a long time coming. Whichever way it goes, TV fans win.
Beyond the acting race, Widow’s Bay had a remarkably strong comedy showing for a brand-new series, and DTF St. Louis — starring Jason Bateman, David Harbour, Richard Jenkins, Linda Cardellini, and Joy Sunday — landed 13 nominations, making it one of the year’s true breakout stories.
Apple TV+ Has Arrived
One of the bigger takeaways from this year’s nominations is the sheer force of Apple TV+, whose new shows Pluribus, Widow’s Bay, and Margo’s Got Money Troubles all made significant showings. The streamer has been quietly building one of the strongest content libraries in the game, and the Television Academy clearly took notice.
The Snubs, Surprises, and One Wild Loophole
No nominations day is complete without the head-scratchers, and 2026 delivered. Euphoria being left out of the top drama race despite a high-profile final season was easily the biggest snub of the day. Meanwhile, Dancing with the Stars returned to the reality competition category for the first time since 2016 — a genuine surprise that raised more than a few eyebrows.
The most unusual story of the day, though, belongs to Connor Storrie from Heated Rivalry. The breakout hockey drama was entirely ineligible for Emmys because it’s a Canadian production — but Storrie managed to land a nomination anyway, for a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live. You genuinely couldn’t make it up.
On a lighter note, Bad Bunny’s electric Super Bowl LX halftime performance also made the cut for a nomination. No complaints there.
Who’s Hosting, and When to Watch
The 78th Emmy Awards will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay, making history as the first host not primarily known for comedy work in nearly two decades. She’s also, somewhat uniquely, a nominee herself — her HBO documentary My Mom Jayne, about her late mother Jayne Mansfield, is up for three awards including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
The ceremony airs Monday, September 14 on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT — bumped from the usual Sunday slot due to an NFL game. The Creative Arts Emmys, where the bulk of the trophies are handed out, take place September 5 and 6.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re rooting for The Pitt to repeat, hoping Jean Smart or Lisa Kudrow finally gets her due, or just curious what Widow’s Bay is all about (same), this year’s Emmy race has something for everyone. September 14 can’t come soon enough.
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