FINAL 78th Primetime Emmy Nomination Predictions: Expect ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Pluribus,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘Widow’s Bay’ to Show Up Big
With Primetime Emmy Award nominations right around the corner (July 8, to be exact), and first round voting out of the way, it’s time to look at the predicted nominees for this year’s Emmys across the drama, comedy and limited/anthology/TV movie categories for series, acting, writing and directing.
The biggest difference between these and my last predictions is that I’m all in on Widow’s Bay now, as I think the Television Academy will be. It’s the show that’s grabbed the most attention this year, and even word-of-mouth alone will be enough to propel the show into a number of nominations, including key noms like Matthew Rhys in Comedy Lead Actor and Kate O’Flynn in Comedy Supporting Actress. The show has quickly picked up steam and could knock a big contender out of the Comedy Series race, which I think will be Nobody Wants This. A second season that felt out of place and didn’t garner much attention will be the downfall of the show going into nominations. I think that HBO has been promoting Rooster enough to perhaps get it into the comedy race, as it seems to be a lock for Lead Actor in a Comedy for Steve Carrell. It wouldn’t be the biggest surprise for it to jump into the race at the last minute.
The drama series categories seem pretty cut and dry, though it would be a welcome surprise for Industry to finally receive some love from the voting body. Stranger Things and Euphoria, both used to grab votes for their previous seasons, but the competition has become too stiff for either to make a meaningful run for any award this year. Zendaya will surely be nominated for her work in Euphoria, but this is the first time she’ll have real competition, as the season was lackluster and didn’t receive the same attention it’s used to. She’ll be challenged by Rhea Seehorn, who will make a big splash with her show Pluribus at this year’s ceremony. The drama categories, as mentioned in my last predictions, will surely mostly belong to The Pitt, which will take up space in most of the main drama categories.
I still think the Limited Series categories will mostly be the same as previously predicted, but I’ve decided to move Sally Field into the nominated women for Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or TV Movie for her work in the octopus-comedy Remarkably Bright Creatures. Even if most people aren’t talking about the movie, plenty will recognize the name, which could be enough to draw attention to her work in the movie.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will honor the best in American prime time television programming from June 1, 2025, until May 31, 2026, as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The awards ceremony will be held live on September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, California, and will be preceded by the 78th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards–where categories like guest acting will be revealed–on September 5 and 6. The ceremony will be produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment and broadcast in the United States by NBC and Peacock.
These are my final nomination predictions for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.
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)
Rooster (HBO)
Shrinking (Apple TV)
Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)
Other contenders: The Bear (FX); Nobody Wants This (Netflix); 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. & 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 (Apple TV)
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)
Ashley Padilla, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)
Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)
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 or Movie
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 or Movie or Movie
Claire Danes, The Beast in Me (Netflix)
Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix)
Carey Mulligan, Beef (Netflix)
Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (FX)
Sarah Snook, All Her Fault (Peacock)
Other contenders: Patricia Arquette, Murdaugh: Death in the Family (Hulu); Kerry Washington, Imperfect Women (Apple TV)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
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. & 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 or Movie
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 & 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)
“Welcome to Widow’s Bay!”, Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)
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
“Ballgame,” Abbott Elementary (ABC)
“Bears,” 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 (Apple TV)
Peter Dinklage, The Lowdown (FX)
Michael J. Fox, Shrinking (Apple TV)
Ryan Gosling, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Connor Storrie, Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Other contenders: Colman Domingo, 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)
- AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 351: FINAL Predictions for the 78th Primetime Emmy Nominations - July 3, 2026
- FINAL 78th Primetime Emmy Nomination Predictions: Expect ‘The Pitt,’ ‘Pluribus,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘Widow’s Bay’ to Show Up Big - June 30, 2026
- Director Kitao Sakurai on Finding Connection Through the Deepest Tensions in Season 2 of ‘Beef’ - June 19, 2026
Palm Springs International Film Society (PSIFS) Announces Two Awards in Honor of Former Festival Chairman and Philantropist Harold Matzner 
Danny Boyle’s ‘Ink’ to Open 83rd Venice Film Festival 
Director Watch Ep. 163: ‘Oppenheimer’ (Christopher Nolan, 2023) 
2026 Toronto International Film Festival: New Films Starring Cate Blanchett, Mahershala Ali, Margaret Qualley, Naomi Watts Announced for TIFF51