The Emmys 2026 nominations are a blend of old and new guard. For proof, look no further than the year’s four most nominated TV shows : medical procedural The Pitt , which earned a whopping 25 nominations after winning five awards last year; Hacks , which recently ended its five-year run with a sizable 24 nominations; Widow’s Bay , the sleeper hit that scored 19 Emmy nominations for its freshman season, including best actor in a comedy series for star Matthew Rhys; and breakout drama Pluribus , which reunites Better Call Saul cocreator Vince Gilligan with Saul star Rhea Seehorn, netting 18 nominations for its debut.

In the limited-series categories, Emmy winners will come from a mix that includes the six-time-nominated Love Story, a Vanity Fair favorite that endeared a new generation to Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr. , as well as season two of Netflix’s anthology series Beef , featuring Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, and Charles Melton.

Another strong contender is HBO’s DTF St. Louis with Jason Bateman and David Harbour.

But as was the case on Emmy-nominations morning, there are sure to be surprises when the final Emmy winners are announced on September 14.

So who might clutch a shiny gold statuette onstage at the 2026 Primetime Emmys? Before you fill out your ballot and tune in to watch Emmy winner Mariska Hargitay as a first-time host, read on for our official predictions.

The Diplomat The Gilded Age A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Paradise PREDICTED WINNER: The Pitt Pluribus Slow Horses Your Friends & Neighbors

Six shows in this category should be happy just to be nominated, because this is a race between two contenders: reigning champ The Pitt and newcomer Pluribus. After winning five Emmys for its first season, HBO Max’s The Pitt returned with a strong second season that saw Dr.

Robby (Noah Wyle) struggle with his mental health. Audiences flocked to the show, with the sophomore outing averaging 15.4 million viewers per episode—a 50% increase from the first season.

Pluribus, the Apple TV series set in a future in which most of humanity has been infected by a virus that causes a hive mind, was beloved by critics—and like The Pitt, it is very beloved by the TV Academy as well. But this series from Vince Gilligan is a watch more challenging than The Pitt, which has an intentionally formulaic design.

This face-off reminds me of last year’s race, which came down to The Pitt and the more heady Severance —and we all know how that turned out. Popularity almost always wins this category, and no show was more discussed than The Pitt this year. — Rebecca Ford

Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age Chase Infiniti, The Testaments Keri Russell, The Diplomat PREDICTED WINNER: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus Zendaya, Euphoria

It’s between two established television stars in this category: Rhea Seehorn for her work on Pluribus and Keri Russell for her work on the third season of The Diplomat. Pluribus is an auteur-driven show, and Seehorn’s character is challenging—the logline on Apple TV describes her as “the most miserable person on Earth.” Yet somehow she gets the audience invested in her journey.

Russell, meanwhile, is excelling in a well-written political thriller whose ambitions are less lofty than those of Gilligan’s show. She won the Actor Award this year, which makes this race closer than people originally thought it would be.

But the sheer scope of Seehorn’s work in Pluribus is undeniable and gives her a narrow edge to win. — John Ross

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES