The Television Academy has officially announced the nominees for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, setting up what is expected to be one of the most exciting and competitive awards seasons in television. This year's nominations feature a mix of returning fan favorites, critically acclaimed newcomers, and several record-breaking achievements across drama, comedy, and limited series.
Leading all programs is HBO Max's The Pitt, which received an impressive 25 Emmy nominations. The medical drama will compete for Outstanding Drama Series, while its star Noah Wyle earned a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. The series has been widely praised for its storytelling, performances, and emotional depth, making it one of the biggest contenders heading into the ceremony.
Comedy series Hacks also made Emmy history with 24 nominations for its fifth and final season. The achievement sets a new record for the most nominations ever received by a comedy series in a single year, surpassing the previous record of 23 nominations set by The Bear in 2024 and later matched by The Studio in 2025. The final season has been praised by both critics and audiences, positioning it as one of the strongest contenders across multiple categories.
Apple TV+ also enjoyed one of its best Emmy years to date, with several original productions receiving major recognition. The platform's new horror-comedy Widow's Bay emerged as the most nominated new series after collecting 19 nominations. Starring Matthew Rhys as the mayor of a mysterious island plagued by supernatural events, the show quickly became one of the year's biggest breakout hits.
Another Apple TV+ newcomer, the science-fiction drama Pluribus, followed closely behind with 18 nominations. The series, led by Rhea Seehorn, earned recognition in several major categories thanks to its ambitious storytelling and strong performances.
Netflix also secured a strong presence in this year's nominations. The second season of BEEF received 16 nominations, making it one of the top contenders in the limited series categories. Meanwhile, HBO Max's DTF St. Louis earned 13 nominations, further strengthening the streaming platform's dominance at this year's Emmys.
One of the biggest individual stories of nomination day was Matthew Rhys, who received nominations for two completely different performances. He was recognized in the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category for his role in Widow's Bay while also earning a nomination in the Limited Series acting category for The Beast in Me. His double nomination highlights one of the strongest years of his career.
Actor Jason Bateman also enjoyed a successful morning after receiving multiple Emmy nominations for his performances in DTF St. Louis and Black Rabbit, further cementing his reputation as one of television's most versatile actors.
The competition in the comedy acting categories is expected to be especially intense. Veteran actresses Lisa Kudrow and Jean Smart will face off for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, representing the final seasons of The Comeback and Hacks, respectively. Both performances have received widespread critical acclaim, making the category one of the night's most closely watched races.
In the drama categories, one of the biggest surprises was the absence of Euphoria from the Outstanding Drama Series lineup. Despite its controversial final season failing to secure a nomination in the top category, the series still received acting nominations for Zendaya and Colman Domingo, recognizing their standout performances.
This year's ceremony will also introduce a significant change to one of television's most popular categories. The Television Academy has merged the former Scripted Variety Series and Talk Series awards into a single Outstanding Variety Series category. Under the new voting system, any nominee that receives at least 90% approval from voters will automatically win an Emmy, meaning multiple winners are now possible instead of just one.
Among the nominees in the newly restructured category are The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Saturday Night Live, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Daily Show, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The nomination for The Late Show comes shortly after the program concluded its run with a star-studded farewell episode.
According to the Television Academy, a total of 555 television programs were submitted across the 14 major program categories this year. While still an enormous number, it represents a slight decrease from the 600 submissions received last year, reflecting a smaller overall pool of eligible productions.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay, the longtime star of Law & Order: SVU. Her selection makes her the first woman to host the Emmy Awards in 15 years, adding another historic milestone to this year's ceremony.
The awards will be broadcast live on Monday, September 14, when television's biggest stars will gather to celebrate the year's best performances, series, writers, directors, and creative talent. With several record-breaking nominees, fierce competition across nearly every category, and multiple historic moments already unfolding before the ceremony, this year's Emmy Awards are shaping up to be one of the most memorable in recent history.
Here are this year's nominees:
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 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 Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons
- Paul W. Downs, Hacks
- Harrison Ford, Shrinking
- Nick Offerman, Margo's Got Money Troubles
- Stephen Root, Widow's Bay
- Michael Urie, Shrinking
- Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- Dale Dickey, Widow's Bay
- Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
- Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
- Kate O'Flynn, Widow's Bay
- Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo's Got Money Troubles
- Megan Stalter, Hacks
- Jessica Williams, Shrinking
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
- Michael J. Fox, Shrinking
- Brett Goldstein, Shrinking
- Hamish Linklater, Widow's Bay
- Christopher McDonald, Hacks
- Rob Reiner, The Bear
- Connor Storrie, Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
- Leslie Bibb, Hacks
- Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear
- Betty Gilpin, Widow's Bay
- Cherry Jones, Hacks
- Laurie Metcalf, Hacks
- Kaitlin Olson, Hacks
- Lauren Weedman, Hacks
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
- Randall Einhorn, Abbott Elementary ("Ballgame")
- Christopher Storer, The Bear ("Bears")
- Andrew DeYoung, The Chair Company ("Life Goes by Too F**king Fast, It Really Does.")
- Lucia Aniello, Hacks ("Finale")
- Mary Lou Belli, The Ms. Pat Show ("Give It Arrest")
- Hiro Murai, Widow's Bay ("Welcome to Widow's Bay!")
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
- Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary ("Team Building")
- Tim Robinson & Zach Kanin, The Chair Company ("Life Goes by Too F**king Fast, It Really Does.")
- Michael Patrick King & Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback ("Valerie Does It All")
- Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky, Hacks ("Finale")
- Anthony King, Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat ("Mergers and Acquisitions")
- Kate Dippold, Widow's Bay ("Welcome to Widow's Bay!")
Outstanding Drama Series
- The Diplomat (Netflix)
- The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)
- Paradise (Hulu)
- The Pitt (HBO Max)
- Pluribus (Apple TV)
- Slow Horses (Apple TV)
- Your Friends and Neighbors (Apple TV)
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 Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- Patrick Ball, The Pitt
- Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
- Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt
- Gerran Howell, The Pitt
- Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
- Tom Pelphrey, Task
- Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Pluribus
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- Taylor Dearden, The Pitt
- Fiona Dourif, The Pitt
- Allison Janney, The Diplomat
- Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
- Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt
- Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
- Karolina Wydra, Pluribus
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
- Colman Domingo, Euphoria
- Ernest Harden Jr., The Pitt
- Jeff Hiller, Pluribus
- Jeff Kober, The Pitt
- Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses
- Bradley Whitford, The Diplomat
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
- Brittany Allen, The Pitt
- Tal Anderson, The Pitt
- Tina Ivlev, The Pitt
- Miriam Shor, Pluribus
- Merritt Wever, The Gilded Age
- Shailene Woodley, Paradise
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
- Salli Richardson Whitfield, The Gilded Age ("My Mind Is Made Up")
- Hanelle M. Culpepper, Paradise ("Exodus")
- Noah Wyle, The Pitt ("12:00 P.M.")
- Vince Gilligan, Pluribus ("We Is Us")
- Saul Metzstein, Slow Horses ("Scars")
- Salli Richardson Whitfield, Task ("Out Beyond Ideas of Wrongdoing and Rightdoing, There Is a River")
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
- Peter Ackerman & Debora Cahn, The Diplomat ("Amagansett")
- Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman & R. Scott Gemmill, The Pitt ("1:00 P.M.")
- Valerie Chu, The Pitt ("12:00 P.M.")
- Vince Gilligan, Pluribus ("We Is Us")
- Will Smith, Slow Horses ("Scars")
- Brad Ingelsby, Task ("A Still Small Voice")
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
- All Her Fault (Peacock)
- The Beast in Me (Netflix)
- Beef (Netflix)
- DTF St. Louis (HBO Max)
- Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette (FX/Hulu)
Outstanding Movie
- Heads of State (Prime Video)
- Miss You, Love You (HBO Max)
- People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix)
- Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix)
- Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War (Prime Video)
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. and Carolyn Bessette
- Sarah Snook, All Her Fault
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Jason Bateman, DTF St. Louis
- Richard Gadd, Half Man
- David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
- Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis
- Charles Melton, Beef
- Nick Offerman, Death by Lightning
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis
- Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault
- Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
- Joy Sunday, DTF St. Louis
- Youn Yuh-jung, Beef
- Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Jake Schreier, Beef ("It Will Stay This Way and You Will Obey")
- Lee Sung Jin, Beef ("Oh, The Comfort, The Inexpressible Comfort")
- Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit ("The Black Rabbits")
- Steven Conrad, DTF St. Louis
Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Megan Gallagher, All Her Fault ("Episode 8")
- Gabe Rotter & Daniel Pearle, The Beast in Me ("Sick Puppy")
- Lee Sung Jin, Beef ("All the Things We're Never Going to Have")
- Mike Makowsky, Death by Lightning
- Steven Conrad, DTF St. Louis
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
- Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
- RuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)
- Survivor (CBS)
- Top Chef (Bravo)
- The Traitors (Peacock)
Outstanding Variety Series
- The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
- Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO Max)
- The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
- The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny (FOX)
- 83rd Annual Golden Globes
- 68th Annual Grammy Awards
- The Oscars
- 78th Annual Tony Awards
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
- Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable...
- The Muppet Show
- Nikki Glaser: Good Girl
- Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show
- Wicked: One Wonderful Night
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
- Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
- Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network)
- Love Is Blind (Netflix)
- Queer Eye (Netflix)
- Shark Tank (ABC)
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
- America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked (MTV)
- Summer House (Bravo)
- Welcome to Wrexham (FXX)
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program
- RuPaul Charles, RuPaul's Drag Race
- Alan Cumming, The Traitors
- Kristen Kish, Top Chef
- Ariana Madix, Love Island USA
- Jeff Probst, Survivor
Outstanding Game Show
- Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
- Jeopardy! (Syndicated)
- The Price Is Right (CBS)
- Wheel of Fortune (Syndicated)
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (ABC)
Outstanding Animated Program
- Rick and Morty
- Smiling Friends
- South Park
- Star Wars: Visions
- The Simpsons
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
- Pamela Adlon, King of the Hill
- Julie Andrews, Bridgerton
- Hank Azaria, The Simpsons
- Trey Parker, South Park
- Matt Vogel, The Muppet Show
- Steven Yeun, Invincible
Outstanding Performer in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
- Kim Estes, Big Law
- Desi Lydic, The Daily Show: Desi Lydic Foxsplains
- Randy Rainbow, The Randy Rainbow Show
Outstanding Narrator
- David Attenborough, A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough
- David Attenborough, Ocean With David Attenborough
- Jodie Foster, Breakdown: 1975
- Werner Herzog, Ghost Elephants
- Octavia Spencer, Lost Women of Alaska
