Predictions for the 2026 Emmy Awards: Who will shine at this year’s ceremony?
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, the 2026 Emmy Awards season has arrived, and all eyes are on the 78th edition of the ceremony to see how titles such as “Hacks,” “The Pitt,” and “Beef” will perform. Reports indicate that the competition for Best Drama Series this year is extremely complex, as the number of contenders with previous nominations has increased unprecedentedly, with around 16 shows competing for 8 nomination slots.
Among the main contenders, HBO shows such as “The Pitt” and “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” have a strong chance of breaking the record for the most nominations in a single season. “The Pitt,” starring Noah Wyle, is currently considered one of the frontrunners. On the other hand, Apple TV+’s sci-fi series “Pluribus,” created by Vince Gilligan (creator of Breaking Bad), is seen as a serious competitor for top titles. Experts predict that Rhea Seehorn may finally win the Best Lead Actress in a Drama award for her role in this series after years of being overlooked.
In the comedy category, “Hacks,” “The Bear,” and “Abbott Elementary” continue to dominate. A new Apple TV+ series, “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” is also emerging as a strong new contender. In comedy acting, there is intense competition among well-known names such as Steve Martin, Jeremy Allen White, and Quinta Brunson.
The final nominations for the 2026 Emmy Awards are scheduled to be officially announced on July 8. As this date approaches, speculation is intensifying, and shows such as “Industry,” “Euphoria,” and “The Diplomat” are also working to secure their places on the final list.
1. Best Comedy Series
Main contenders:
- Abbott Elementary
- The Bear
- The Comeback
- Hacks
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Nobody Wants This
- Only Murders in the Building
- Shrinking
Other contenders:
- Big Mistakes
- I Love LA
- Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat
- The Lowdown
- Rooster
Lower chances:
- The Chair Company
- The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins
- The Paper
- Widow’s Bay
- Wonder Man
In an ideal scenario:
- Boots
- St. Denis Medical
- Sunny Nights
2. Best Actor in a Comedy Series
Main contenders:
- Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This
- Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building
- Jason Segel – Shrinking
- Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
- Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
Other contenders:
- Steve Carell – Rooster
- Ted Danson – A Man on the Inside
- Ethan Hawke – The Lowdown
- Tracy Morgan – The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins
- Tim Robinson – The Chair Company
Lower chances:
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Wonder Man
- Nicolas Cage – Spider-Noir
- Dan Levy – Big Mistakes
- Glen Powell – Chad Powers
- Owen Wilson – Stick
In an ideal scenario:
- John Cena – Peacemaker
- Domhnall Gleeson – The Paper
- Alexander Skarsgård – Murderbot
3. Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Main contenders:
- Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This
- Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
- Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
- Lisa Kudrow – The Comeback
- Jean Smart – Hacks
Other contenders:
- Elle Fanning – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building
- Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
- Rachel Sennott – I Love LA
- Kristen Wiig – Palm Royale
Lower chances:
- Tina Fey – The Four Seasons
- Kate Hudson – Running Point
- Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face
- Carrie Preston – Elsbeth
- Maya Rudolph – Loot
In an ideal scenario:
- Rose Byrne – Platonic
- Laura Linney – American Classic
- Keke Palmer – The ‘Burbs
4. Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Main contenders:
- Colman Domingo – The Four Seasons
- Paul W. Downs – Hacks
- Harrison Ford – Shrinking
- Nick Offerman – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Michael Urie – Shrinking
- Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
- Bowen Yang – Saturday Night Live
Other contenders:
- Brett Goldstein – Shrinking
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Bear
- Daniel Radcliffe – The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins
- Andrew Scott – The Comeback
- Timothy Simons – Nobody Wants This
Lower chances:
- Marcelo Hernández – Saturday Night Live
- Ben Kingsley – Wonder Man
- Ted McGinley – Shrinking
- Chris Perfetti – Abbott Elementary
- Luke Tennie – Shrinking
In an ideal scenario:
- Joel Kim Booster – Loot
- Keith David – The Lowdown
- Brandon Scott Jones – Ghosts
5. Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Main contenders:
- Danielle Deadwyler – Rooster
- Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
- Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
- Michelle Pfeiffer – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary
- Megan Stalter – Hacks
- Jessica Williams – Shrinking
Other contenders:
- Liza Colón-Zayas – The Bear
- Laurie Metcalf – Big Mistakes
- Christa Miller – Shrinking
- Ashley Padilla – Saturday Night Live
- Lisa Ann Walter – Abbott Elementary
Lower chances:
- Odessa A’zion – I Love LA
- Erika Alexander – The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins
- Carol Burnett – Palm Royale
- Justin Lupe – Nobody Wants This
- Renée Zellweger – Only Murders in the Building
In an ideal scenario:
- Kristin Davis – And Just Like That
- Poorna Jagannathan – Deli Boys
- Brenda Song – Running Point
6. Best Drama Series
Main contenders:
- The Diplomat
- Euphoria
- Industry
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
- Paradise
- The Pitt
- Pluribus
- Task
Other contenders:
- The Boys
- Bridgerton
- The Morning Show
- Slow Horses
- Stranger Things
Lower chances:
- Alien: Earth
- The Gilded Age
- Landman
- The Madison
- The Testaments
In an ideal scenario:
- Dexter: Resurrection
- Matlock
- Your Friends and Neighbors
7. Best Actor in a Drama Series
Main contenders:
- Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
- Peter Claffey – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
- Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
- Mark Ruffalo – Task
- Noah Wyle – The Pitt
Other contenders:
- Walton Goggins – Fallout
- Jon Hamm – Your Friends and Neighbors
- Rufus Sewell – The Diplomat
- Morgan Spector – The Gilded Age
- Billy Bob Thornton – Landman
Lower chances:
- Tom Hiddleston – The Night Manager
- Billy Magnussen – The Audacity
- Zahn McClarnon – Dark Winds
- Antony Starr – The Boys
- Luke Thompson – Bridgerton
In an ideal scenario:
- Anthony Boyle – House of Guinness
- Aldis Hodge – Cross
- Joel Kinnaman – For All Mankind
8. Best Actress in a Drama Series
Main contenders:
- Kathy Bates – Matlock
- Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age
- Keri Russell – The Diplomat
- Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
- Zendaya – Euphoria
Other contenders:
- Marisa Abela – Industry
- Jennifer Aniston – The Morning Show
- Chase Infiniti – The Testaments
- Myha’la – Industry
- Michelle Pfeiffer – The Madison
Lower chances:
- Yerin Ha – Bridgerton
- Kaitlin Olson – High Potential
- Carrie Preston – Elsbeth
- Ella Purnell – Fallout
- Reese Witherspoon – The Morning Show
In an ideal scenario:
- Taylor Paige – It: Welcome to Derry
- Molly Parker – Doc
- Jurnee Smollett – Smoke
9. Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Main contenders:
- Patrick Ball – The Pitt
- Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
- Jacob Elordi – Euphoria
- Jaren Howell – The Pitt
- Ken Leung – Industry
- Tom Pelphrey – Task
- Carlos-Manuel Vesga – Pluribus
Other contenders:
- Dexter Sol Ansell – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
- Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje – Euphoria
- Colman Domingo – Euphoria
- Kit Harington – Industry
- James Marsden – Paradise
Lower chances:
- Babu Ceesay – Alien: Earth
- Christopher Chung – Slow Horses
- Jack Lowden – Slow Horses
- Max Minghella – Industry
- Kurt Russell – The Madison
In an ideal scenario:
- Jamie Campbell Bower – Stranger Things
- Diego Calva – The Night Manager
- Aaron Moten – Fallout
10. Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Main contenders:
- Supriya Ganesh – The Pitt
- Allison Janney – The Diplomat
- Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt
- Sepideh Moafi – The Pitt
- Julianne Nicholson – Paradise
- Carolina Wydra – Pluribus
- Sydney Sweeney – Euphoria
Other contenders:
- Shabana Azmi – The Pitt
- Isa Briones – The Pitt
- Taylor Dearden – The Pitt
- Fiona Dourif – The Pitt
- Emilia Jones – Task
Lower chances:
- Christine Baranski – The Gilded Age
- Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show
- Ann Dowd – The Testaments
- Skye P. Marshall – Matlock
- Hunter Schafer – Euphoria
In an ideal scenario:
- Alexa Demie – Euphoria
- Sarah Goldberg – The Audacity
- Alia Larter – Landman
