‘Hacks,’ ‘The Bear’ and ‘Widow’s Bay’ lead early standout categories

Television’s biggest awards season is officially underway. The nominations for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards were unveiled on July 8, with Emmy winner Liza Colón-Zayas (“The Bear”) and Jeff Hiller (“Widow’s Bay”) announcing this year’s contenders during a live ceremony beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET. The awards will air live on Sept. 14 on NBC and Peacock, with Mariska Hargitay set to host the ceremony. 

As expected, several returning favorites and high-profile newcomers earned recognition. Final-season comedy favorite “Hacks” continued its impressive Emmy streak, while freshman hits “Widow’s Bay” and “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” made strong showings. 

Meanwhile, “The Bear,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Shrinking,” and “Only Murders in the Building” once again secured places among television’s top comedies.

One of the biggest storylines surrounding this year’s race is “Hacks.” Since premiering in 2021, the Max comedy has become an Emmy powerhouse, thanks largely to Jean Smart‘s acclaimed performance. Following the release of its fifth and final season in 2026, this marks the show’s final opportunity to compete for television’s highest honor.

2026 Emmy Nominations

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary
• The Bear
• Nobody Wants This
• Hacks
• Margo’s Got Money Troubles
• Only Murders in the Building
• Shrinking
• Widow’s Bay 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Claire Danes, The Beast in Me
• Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
• Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
• Carey Mulligan, Beef
• Sarah Snook, All Her Fault 

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 Variety Series

• The Daily Show
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
• The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
• Saturday Night Live 

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

• Dancing With the Stars
• RuPaul’s Drag Race
• Survivor
• Top Chef
• The Traitors

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

• The Beast in Me
• Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
• DTF St. Lousi
• Beef
• All Her Fault

 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 Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Steve Carell, Rooster
• Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay
• Jason Segel, Shrinking
• Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
• Yaya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder Man

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary
• The Bear
• Nobody Wants This
• Hacks
• Margo’s Got Money Troubles
• Only Murders in the Building
• Shrinking
• Widow’s Bay

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons
• Paul W. Downs, Hacks
• 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
• Megan Stalter, Hacks
• Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
• Jessica Williams, Shrinking

Outstanding Drama Series

• The Diplomat
• The Gilded Age
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
• Paradise
• The Pitt
• Pluribus
• Slow Horses
• Your Friends and Neighbors 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
• Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
• Mark Ruffalo, Task
• Noah Wyle, The Pitt
• Rufus Sewell, The Diplomat

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
• Kerri Russell, The Diplomat
• Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
• Zendaya, Euphoria
• Chase Infiniti, The Testaments

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Fiona Dourif, The Pitt
• Taylor Dearden, The Pitt
• Allison Janney, The Diplomat
• Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
• Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt
• Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
• Karolina Wydra, Pluribus 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Patrick Ball, The Pitt
• Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
• Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt
• Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
• Tom Pelphrey, Task
• Carlos Manuel-Vesga, Pluribus

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Linda Carellini, DTF St. Louis
• Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
• Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault
• Joy Sunday, DTF St. Louis
• Youn Yuh-jung, Beef
• Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Jason Bateman, DTF St. Louis
• Richard Gadd, Half Man
• Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis
• David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
• Charles Melton, Beef
• Nick Offerman, Death by Lightning 

Outstanding Television Movie

• Heads of State
• Miss You, Love You
• Remarkably Bright Creatures
• People We Meet on Vacation
• Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War

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 Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

• Christopher McDonald, Hacks
• Michael J. Fox, Shrinking
• Brett Goldstein, Shrinking
• Hamish Linklater, Widow’s Bay
• Rob Reiner, The Bear
• Connor Storrie, Saturday Night Live 

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

• Tal Anderson, The Pitt
• Brittany Allen, The Pitt
• Tina Ivlev, The Pitt
• Miriam Shor, Pluribus
• Merritt Wever, The Gilded Age
• Shailene Woodley, Paradise