HBO Dominates the 2026 Primetime Emmy Nominations: Full Category Breakdown
The 78th Primetime Emmy nominations are officially out, and HBO has come out swinging with the most nods across its slate.
Key takeaways
- HBO leads the 78th Primetime Emmy nominations with a total of 122 across its shows.
- Season 2 of The Pitt and the fifth (and final) season of Hacks drive the bulk of HBO’s haul, together accounting for more than half of its nominations.
- Pluribus on Apple TV is a standout outside HBO, earning six nominations in major categories.
- Some popular titles missed acting, writing, or directing recognition, but still racked up extensive technical nominations—Fallout and Stranger Things are cited for sound and makeup.
- The nominations list below covers major categories, including drama, comedy, limited/anthology, and several non-scripted awards.
HBO’s record run and the biggest non-HBO contender
HBO’s performance is record-setting, with 122 nominations spanning its entire catalog. The Pitt season 2 and Hacks season 5 are the major contributors, with those two releases alone responsible for more than 50 nominations. Other HBO projects—Euphoria, DTF St. Louis, Task, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms—also pull their weight and add a meaningful share to the network’s total.
Outside of HBO, Apple TV’s Pluribus emerges as a key rival. The series lands six nominations in some of the larger categories, putting it in the conversation alongside the biggest HBO titles.
Not every fan-favorite made the acting, writing, or directing cut. Even so, several shows compensated by performing strongly in technical areas. Fallout and Stranger Things, for example, show up heavily in below-the-line categories like sound and makeup.
Full nominee list (major categories)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown (Paradise)
Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)
Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age)
Chase Infiniti (The Testaments)
Keri Russell (The Diplomat)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Billy Crudup (The Morning Show)
Jack Lowden (Slow Horses)
Carlos-Manuel Vesga (Pluribus)
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Taylor Deardon (The Pitt)
Allison Janney (The Diplomat)
Katherine LaNasa (The Pitt)
Julianne Nicholson (Paradise)
Karolina Wydra (Pluribus)
Directing for a Drama Series
Salli Richardson Whitfield (The Gilded Age)
Hanelle M. Culpepper (Paradise)
Vince Gilligan (Pluribus)
Saul Metzstein (Slow Horses)
Salli Richardson Whitfield (Task)
Writing for a Drama Series
Peter Ackerman & Debora Cahn (The Diplomat)
Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman & R. Scott Gemmill (The Pitt)
Outstanding Drama Series
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)
Your Friends and Neighbors (Apple TV)
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Wonder Man)
Matthew Rhys (Widow’s Bay)
Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
Elle Fanning (Margo’s Got Money Troubles)
Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Colman Domingo (The Four Seasons)
Harrison Ford (Shrinking)
Nick Offerman (Margo’s Got Money Troubles)
Stephen Root (Widow’s Bay)
Tayler James Williams (Abbott Elementary)
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Dale Dickey (Widow’s Bay)
Janelle James (Abbott Elementary)
Kate O’Flynn (Widow’s Bay)
Michelle Pfeiffer (Margo’s Got Money Troubles)
Jessica Williams (Shrinking)
Writing for a Comedy Series
Tim Robinson & Zach Kanin (The Chair Company)
Michael Patrick King & Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback)
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, & Jen Statsky (Hacks)
Anthony King (Jury Duty Presents Company Retreat)
Katie Dippold (Widow’s Bay)
Directing for a Comedy Series
Randall Einhorn (Abbott Elementary)
Christopher Storer (The Bear)
Andrew DeYoung (The Chair Company)
Mary Lou Belli (The Ms. Pat Show)
Outstanding Comedy Series
Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)
Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series
Claire Danes (The Beast in Me)
Sally Field (Remarkably Bright Creatures)
Sarah Pidgeon (Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette)
Sarah Snook (All Her Fault)
Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series
Jason Bateman (Black Rabbit)
Charlie Hunnam (Monster: The Ed Gein Story)
Matthew Rhys (The Beast in Me)
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Jason Bateman (DTF St. Louis)
David Harbour (DTF St. Louis)
Richard Jenkins (DTF St. Louis)
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)
Constance Zimmer (Love Story: John F. Kennedy & Carolyn Bessette)
Direction for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Steven Conrad (DTF St. Louis)
Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Megan Gallagher (All Her Fault)
Gabe Rotter & Daniel Pearle (The Beast in Me)
Mike Makowsky (Death by Lightning)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
The Beast in Me (Netflix)
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette (FX)
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
Outstanding Variety Series
The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO Max)
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Outstanding Animated Program
Rick And Morty (Adult Swim)
Smiling Friends (Adult Swim)
South Park (Comedy Central)
Star Wars: Visions (Disney+)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
Pamela Adlon (King of the Hill)
Julie Andrews (Bridgerton)
Hank Azaria (The Simpsons)
Matt Vogel (The Muppet Show)
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
