2026 Emmy Nomination Predictions in Drama, Comedy, Limited Series Categories

With voting underway for the Television Academy to decide the 2026, it’s time to look at the possible nominees for the ceremony for the last year of eligibility (June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026).

The Pitt will be the drama series to beat again this year, coming off multiple wins last year. It wouldn’t be a surprise for the HBO Max drama series to rack up over 30 nominations this year. Noah Wyle is the frontrunner again this year for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama, so he’s expected to take a nomination. In the supporting categories, the series could really take home some nominations, including last year’s winner, Katherine LaNasa. Patrick Ball, Gerran Howell, and Taylor Dearden are all in the running this year as well. Last year’s Guest Actor in a Drama winner Shawn Hatosy will be in the supporting category this year, so expect him to grab a nom too. A few new dramas will litter the nominations as well, including Task, Pluribus, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Pluribus, from Vince Gilligan, is a shoo-in for Drama Lead Actress, as well as directing and writing nominations. 

Half Man is going to be a tough series to overcome in the Limited Series categories, as its dark six episodes are outstanding and brutal. Jaime Bell and Richard Gadd both are guaranteed nominations, Gadd also nominated for writing the series as well as performing. He’s hot off his wins for Baby Reindeer, so he’ll be looking to win in the same categories. Love Story is going to be a big contender this year as well, having drawn in much attention during its run, Sarah Pidgeon a top contender in the Limited Lead Actress category. DTF St. Louis will be running its cast in the supporting categories, so expect Linda Cardellini, Jason Bateman, and David Harbour to all score nominations when they come out. 

Comedy is going to be a race to the finish. Hacks and The Comeback have both finished their final seasons, but who will come out on top for Emmy nominations? Hacks has more of an upper hand here, and will likely have a big year for its hilarious farewell season. The Comeback shouldn’t be overlooked, however, with heavyweight Lisa Kudrow back in the mix. It will be a photo finish between her and Jean Smart, who has won for every season of Hacks so far. Other series that will be in the mix for comedy include Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Nobody Wants This, Shrinking, and Widow’s Bay. 

Outstanding Drama Series

The Diplomat (Netflix)

The Gilded Age (HBO Max)

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO)

Paradise (Hulu)

The Pitt (HBO Max)

Pluribus (Apple TV)

Slow Horses (Apple TV)

Task (HBO)

Other contenders: Euphoria (HBO); Industry (HBO); Stranger Things (Netflix) 

Outstanding Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary (ABC)

The Comeback (HBO)

Hacks (HBO Max)

Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat (Prime Video)

Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)

Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Shrinking (Apple TV)

Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)

Other contenders: The Bear (FX); Rooster (HBO); The Hunting Wives (Netflix)

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

The Beast in Me (Netflix)

Beef (Netflix)

DTF St. Louis (HBO)

Half Man (HBO)

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette (FX)

Other contenders: All Her Fault (Peacock); Black Rabbit (Netflix); Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)

Outstanding Movie Made for Television

Good Omens (Prime Video)

Mike and Nick and Nick and Alice (Hulu)

Miss You, Love You (HBO)

People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix)

Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix)

Other contenders: In the Blink of an Eye (Hulu); Pizza Movie (Hulu)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Sterling K. Brown, Paradise (Hulu)

Gary Oldman, Slow Horses (Apple TV)

Mark Ruffalo, Task (HBO)

Morgan Spector, The Gilded Age (HBO Max)

Noah Wyle, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Other contenders: Peter Claffey, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO); Idris Elba, Hijack (AppleTV); Billy Bob Thornton, Landman (Paramount+)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age (HBO Max)

Michelle Pfeiffer, The Madison (Paramount+)

Keri Russell, The Diplomat (Netflix)

Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus (Apple TV)

Zendaya, Euphoria (HBO)

Other contenders: Kathy Bates, Matlock (CBS); Chase Infiniti, The Testaments (Hulu) Myha’la, Industry (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Patrick Ball, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show (Apple TV)

Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Jack Lowden, Slow Horses (Apple TV)

Tom Pelphrey, Task (HBO)

Kurt Russell, The Madison (Paramount+)

Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Pluribus (Apple TV)

Other contenders: David Harbour, Stranger Things (Netflix); Kit Harington, Industry (HBO); Gerran Howell, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Isa Briones, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Taylor Dearden, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Allison Janney, The Diplomat (Netflix)

Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Julianne Nicholson, Paradise (Hulu)

Karolina Wydra, Pluribus (Apple TV)

Other contenders: Marisa Abela, Industry (HBO); Millie Bobbie Brown, Stranger Things (Netflix); Emilia Jones, Task (HBO)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Steve Carrell, Rooster (HBO)

Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)

Jason Segel, Shrinking (Apple TV)

Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Other contenders: Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This (Netflix); Tim Robinson, The Chair Company (HBO); Jeremy Allen White, The Bear (FX)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Kristen Bell, Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)

Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback (HBO)

Jean Smart, Hacks (HBO Max)

Other contenders: Ayo Edebiri, The Bear (FX); Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building (Hulu); Maya Rudolph, Loot (Apple TV)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons (Netflix)

Paul W. Downs, Hacks (HBO Max)

Harrison Ford, Shrinking (AppleTV)

Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)

Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)

Michael Urie, Shrinking (Apple TV)

Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Other contenders: Daniel Radcliffe, The Rise and Fall of Reggie Jenkins (NBC); Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live (NBC); Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Hannah Einbinder, Hacks (HBO Max)

Janelle James, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Laurie Metcalf, Big Mistakes (Netflix)

Ashley Padilla, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles (AppleTV)

Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Meg Stalter, Hacks (HBO Max)

Other contenders: Dale Dickey, Widow’s Bay (Apple TV); Jessica Williams, Shrinking (Apple TV)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series

Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit (Netflix)

Jamie Bell, Half Man (HBO)

Oscar Isaac, Beef (Netflix)

Paul Anthony Kelly, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (FX)

Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me (Netflix)

Other contenders: Jude Law, Black Rabbit (Netflix); Matthew Macfadyen, Death by Lightning (Netflix); Michael Shannon, Death by Lightning (Netflix)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series

Patricia Arquette, Murdaugh: Death in the Family (Hulu)

Claire Danes, The Beast in Me (Netflix)

Carey Mulligan, Beef (Netflix)

Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (FX)

Sarah Snook, All Her Fault (Peacock)

Other contenders: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix); Kerry Washington, Imperfect Women (Apple TV)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series

Jason Bateman, DTF St. Louis (HBO)

Richard Gadd, Half Man (HBO)

David Harbour, DTF St. Louis (HBO)

Song Kang-ho, Beef (Netflix)

Charles Melton, Beef (Netflix)

Alessandro Nivola, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette (FX)

Other contenders: Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis (HBO); Nick Offerman, Death by Lightning (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series

Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis (HBO)

Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)

Cailee Spaeny, Beef (Netflix)

Naomi Watts, Love Story: John F. Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette (FX)

Youn Yuh-jung, Beef (Netflix)

Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy & Carolyn Bessette (FX)

Other contenders: Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault (Peacock); Grace Gummer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy & Carolyn Bessette (FX); Lesley Manville, Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

“Amagansett,” The Diplomat (Netflix)

“12:00 P.M.,” The Pitt (HBO Max)

“1:00 P.M.,” The Pitt (HBO Max) 

“Grenade,” Pluribus (Apple TV)

“We Is Us,” Pluribus (Apple TV)

“Got Milk,” Pluribus (Apple TV)

“Scars,” Slow Horses (Apple TV)

Other contenders: “Dear Henry,” Industry (HBO); “Blood and Bone,” The Boys (Prime Video)

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

“Team Building,” Abbott Elementary (ABC)

“Valerie Does It All,” The Comeback (HBO)

“Hacks (Finale),” Hacks (HBO Max)

“Mergers and Acquisitions,” Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat (Prime Video)

“Pilot,” The Lowdown (FX)

“Lock and Loaded,” Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)

“Nail in the Coffin,” Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Other contenders: “And That’s Our Time,” Shrinking (Apple TV); “Life Goes By Too F**king Fast, It Really Does.,” The Chair Company (HBO)

Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series

“Sick Puppy,” The Beast in Me (Netflix)

“All The Things We’re Never Going To Have,” Beef (Netflix)

Death by Lightning (Netflix)

DTF St. Louis (HBO)

Half Man (HBO)

“Pilot,” Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (FX)

Other contenders: Lord of the Flies (Netflix); “The Wedding,” Love Story: John F. Kennedy & Carolyn Bessette (FX)

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

“In the Name of the Mother,” A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)

“9:00 P.M.,” The Pitt (HBO Max)

“7:00 P.M.,” The Pitt (HBO Max)

“We Is Us,” Pluribus (Apple TV)

“Grenade,” Pluribus (Apple TV)

“Please, Carol,” Pluribus (Apple TV)

“Scars,” Slow Horses (Apple TV)

Other contenders: “In God We Trust,” Euphoria (HBO); “Dear Henry,” Industry (HBO)

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

“Bears,” The Bear (FX)

“Worms,” The Bear (FX)

“Hacks (Finale),” Hacks (HBO Max)

“Flamingos,” Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)

“Cuckoo Chicks,” Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

“Give It Arrest,” The Ms. Pat Show (BET+)

“Welcome To Widow’s Bay!,” Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)

Other contenders: “Ballgame,” Abbott Elementary (ABC); “Release the Brown Fat,” Rooster (HBO)

Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series

“It Will Stay This Way And You Will Obey,” Beef (Netflix)

“Oh, The Comfort, The Inexpressible Comfort,” Beef (Netflix)

DTF St. Louis (HBO)

“Episode 2,” Half Man (HBO)

“Pilot,” Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (FX)

Other contenders: “Sick Puppy,” The Beast in Me (Netflix); Death by Lightning (Netflix)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Jon Bernthal, The Bear (FX)

Jeff Daniels, Shrinking (AppleTV)

Peter Dinklage, The Lowdown (FX)

Michael J. Fox, Shrinking (Apple TV)

Ryan Gosling, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Connor Storie, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Other contenders: Colman Doming, Saturday Night Live (NBC); Tony Goldwyn, Hacks (HBO Max); Elijah Wood, I Love LA (HBO)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Leslie Bibb, Hacks (HBO Max)

Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear (FX)

Betty Gilpin, Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)

Cherry Jones, Hacks (HBO Max)

Laurie Metcalf, Hacks (HBO Max)

Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Other contenders: Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live (NBC); Kaitlin Olson, Hacks (HBO Max)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Eric Dane, Euphoria (HBO)

Colman Domingo, Euphoria (HBO)

Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys (Prime Video)

Jeff Hiller, Pluribus (Apple TV)

Jeff Kober, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Bradley Whitford, The Diplomat (Netflix)

Other contenders: Jon Hamm, The Morning Show (Apple TV); Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses (Apple TV); Samba Schutte, Pluribus (Apple TV)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Brittany Allen, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Tal Anderson, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Danielle Deadwyler, Euphoria (HBO)

Ayesha Harris, The Pitt (HBO Max)

Shailene Woodley, Paradise (Hulu)

Merrit Wever, The Gilded Age (HBO Max)

Other contenders: Elisabeth Moss, The Testaments (Hulu); Miriam Shor, Pluribus (Apple TV)

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

The Daily Show (Comedy Central)

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)