In short
- The 2026 Emmy Awards ceremony takes place on Monday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, starting at 17:00 PT / 20:00 ET.
- The Pitt won best drama last year and has eight individual acting nominations this year, including one for its star Noah Wyle.
- Jean Smart has won four Emmys for Hacks and could reach eight career Emmys, tying the record held by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman.
- Heated Rivalry is not eligible for the Emmys because it is a fully financed Canadian production; it can instead compete at the International Emmys in New York in November.
- The number of trophies awarded on the main night has been cut from 26 to 19.
The 2026 Emmy Awards, US television’s most prestigious prizes, take place on Monday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The Pitt, Hacks, Beef, Pluribus, Widow’s Bay and DTF St Louis are among the nominated shows, while Heated Rivalry is absent because it is a fully financed Canadian production.
Which shows are the frontrunners?
The Pitt, the medical drama starring Noah Wyle, won best drama last year and returns to defend its title. It has eight individual acting nominations, including one for Wyle. Other drama nominees include Pluribus, Slow Horses, The Diplomat and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the Game of Thrones prequel.
In comedy, Hacks is competing after its fifth and final season. Jean Smart, who has won four Emmys for the show, could reach eight career Emmys and tie the record held by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman. Widow’s Bay, Shrinking, Abbott Elementary and Nobody Wants This are also nominated.
Netflix’s Beef, in its second season, is a contender in the limited or anthology series category, where its stars Carey Mulligan and Oscar Isaac are nominated. DTF St Louis had a strong Creative Arts Emmys, where Linda Cardellini and David Harbour won best supporting actress and actor in a limited series.
Why is Heated Rivalry not nominated?
Heated Rivalry, the ice hockey romance starring Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, did not qualify because it is a fully financed Canadian production without the US involvement the Emmys require. Schitt’s Creek qualified through financial and broadcast partnerships in the US, including creator and star Dan Levy’s American production company. Heated Rivalry can instead compete at the International Emmys in New York in November.
Who are the British nominees?
British nominees include Carey Mulligan for Beef, Riz Ahmed for Bait, Rufus Sewell for The Diplomat, Kate O’Flynn for Widow’s Bay, and Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden for Slow Horses. Matthew Rhys is nominated in two lead actor categories, for the comedy Widow’s Bay and the limited series The Beast in Me.
Which shows had a weaker showing?
Stranger Things is absent from the top categories for its final series, with seven nominations in technical categories. Euphoria’s final season received one acting nomination, for former winner Zendaya.
What changes have been made to the ceremony?
Best talk series and best scripted variety series have been merged into one category, outstanding variety series, pitting chat show hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel against Saturday Night Live and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. Trophies on the main night have been cut from 26 to 19.
How can you watch the Emmys?
The ceremony begins at 17:00 PT / 20:00 ET on Monday and is broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. US viewers can watch on NBC or streaming service Peacock. In the UK it starts at 01:00 BST on Tuesday, and no British broadcaster is scheduled to carry it live; the BBC News website will run overnight coverage. Elsewhere in UK television, Drag Race UK left the BBC after eight series for Wow Presents Plus, and Strictly Come Dancing’s new hosts said they would share the roles rather than replace Tess Daly.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Heated Rivalry not nominated for an Emmy?
The show did not qualify because it is a fully financed Canadian production without the US involvement the Emmys require. It can instead compete at the International Emmys in New York in November.
When are the 2026 Emmy Awards and how can I watch them?
The ceremony starts at 17:00 PT / 20:00 ET on Monday at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, broadcast on NBC and streaming on Peacock in the US. In the UK it begins at 01:00 BST on Tuesday and no British broadcaster is scheduled to show it live.
Who are the British nominees at this year’s Emmys?
They include Carey Mulligan for Beef, Riz Ahmed for Bait, Rufus Sewell for The Diplomat, Kate O’Flynn for Widow’s Bay, Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden for Slow Horses, and Matthew Rhys, who is nominated in two lead actor categories.
How many Emmys has Jean Smart won for Hacks?
Jean Smart has won four Emmys for Hacks. A fifth win for the show’s final season would bring her career total to eight, tying the record held by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Map Travel — World Maps / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)