The television industry’s biggest awards race is officially taking shape, and The Pitt is heading into the 2026 Emmys with a sizable head start.
The medical drama leads the field for the 78th Emmy Awards with 25 nominations, putting it at the center of another major awards season. The series is competing for Outstanding Drama Series, while Noah Wyle earned a nomination for Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Hacks is barely a step behind. The acclaimed comedy picked up 24 nominations for its final season, including another shot at Outstanding Comedy Series. Jean Smart is also back in the Lead Actress in a Comedy Series race, continuing the show’s impressive run with Emmy voters.
One of the biggest newcomers is Widow’s Bay. The Apple TV horror-comedy collected 19 nominations, an impressive showing for its first season. Matthew Rhys landed in the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category, while Dale Dickey and Kate O’Flynn both earned supporting actress nominations.
Apple has another heavyweight contender in Pluribus. The drama scored 18 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and a Lead Actress nomination for Rhea Seehorn.
Beef also remains firmly in the awards conversation with 16 nominations, adding another major contender to an already crowded Emmy field.
The Outstanding Drama Series category brings together The Diplomat, The Gilded Age, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Paradise, The Pitt, Pluribus, Slow Horses and Your Friends and Neighbors.
Comedy is just as competitive. Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, Shrinking and Widow’s Bay are all competing for the top comedy prize.
The acting categories bring plenty of familiar Emmy names alongside newer contenders. Wyle faces Sterling K. Brown, Gary Oldman, Mark Ruffalo and Rufus Sewell in the drama lead actor race. The comedy lead actress category includes Quinta Brunson, Ayo Edebiri, Elle Fanning, Lisa Kudrow and Smart.
Jason Bateman also has an unusually busy Emmy season ahead. With four nominations, he is the year’s most-nominated individual performer.
Beyond the individual races, this year’s nominations highlight an increasingly competitive battle among television’s biggest platforms. HBO Max has two of the most-nominated programs in The Pitt and Hacks, while Apple TV has made a major showing with Widow’s Bay and Pluribus.
With established Emmy favorites sharing the ballot with several breakout series, the 2026 ceremony has something awards shows always appreciate: plenty of room for an upset.
