‘The Bear’ and ‘Only Murders’ Lead 2026 Emmy Nominations
The Television Academy announced the nominees for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on July 8, 2026, with FX’s “The Bear” and Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” emerging as frontrunners across major categories. The ceremony is scheduled for September 14, 2026, celebrating the best in American prime-time television, as reported by The New York Times.
A Competitive Comedy Field
In the Outstanding Comedy Series category, “The Bear” and “Only Murders in the Building” are joined by Apple TV+‘s “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” Netflix’s “Nobody Wants This” and “Widow’s Bay.” The category reflects a diverse landscape of streaming and cable offerings.
“The Bear,” created by Christopher Storer, premiered on FX on Hulu in June 2022 and has been a critical darling since its debut. The series, set in a Chicago sandwich shop, has dominated the comedy categories in recent years. Its third season continues to earn acclaim, though notably, several of its regular cast members — including Jeremy Allen White and Ebon Moss-Bachrach — do not appear in the lead or supporting categories this cycle. Instead, the show’s nominations are concentrated in the guest acting categories, with Rob Reiner nominated for Guest Actor and Jamie Lee Curtis for Guest Actress.
Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, has been a consistent Emmy favorite since its debut. The series earned a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series, and Martin Short received a Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nomination. The show’s blend of comedy and mystery has resonated with both audiences and critics.
Drama Series: New Contenders and Returning Favorites
The Outstanding Drama Series category features six nominees, including Netflix’s “The Diplomat,” HBO’s “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” — a Game of Thrones prequel — Hulu’s “Paradise,” Max’s “The Pitt,” and Apple TV+ entries “Pluribus” and “Your Friends & Neighbors.”
In the Lead Actor in a Drama Series category, Sterling K. Brown earned a nomination for his role in “Paradise,” alongside Gary Oldman for “Slow Horses,” Mark Ruffalo for “Task,” Rufus Sewell for “The Diplomat,” and Noah Wyle for “The Pitt.” The Lead Actress in a Drama Series category features Carrie Coon for “The Gilded Age,” Chase Infiniti for “The Testaments,” Keri Russell for “The Diplomat,” Rhea Seehorn for “Pluribus,” and Zendaya for “Euphoria.”
Limited Series and Variety Categories
In the Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series category, nominees include Peacock’s “All Her Fault,” Netflix’s “The Beast in Me” and “Beef,” and FX’s “DTF St. Louis” and “Love Story: John F. Kennedy & Carolyn Bessette.”
The Variety Series category features familiar names: “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central), “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC), “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO), and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS).
Reality competition nominees include “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC), “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (MTV), “Survivor” (CBS), “Top Chef” (Bravo), and “The Traitors” (Peacock).
’Hacks’ Dominates Guest Categories
HBO/Max’s “Hacks” demonstrated remarkable strength in the Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category, with five of the seven nominees coming from the show: Leslie Bibb, Cherry Jones, Laurie Metcalf, Kaitlin Olson, and Lauren Weedman. This reflects the show’s final season and its ability to attract top-tier guest talent.
New Series Making an Impact
The 2026 nominations feature several notable new entries making strong debuts. Apple TV+‘s “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” earned multiple nominations including Comedy Series, Lead Actress for Elle Fanning, and supporting category nods. Netflix’s “Widow’s Bay” emerged as a major new comedy with multiple acting nominations. On the drama side, Hulu’s “Paradise” earned a top series nomination with Sterling K. Brown nominated for Lead Actor, while Max’s “The Pitt” — a medical drama starring Noah Wyle — also secured Drama Series and Lead Actor nominations.
Analysis and Implications
This year’s nominations reflect the continued dominance of streaming platforms in the television landscape. Traditional broadcast networks are largely absent from the major categories, with cable and streaming services commanding the field. The breadth of nominees across multiple platforms — Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu, HBO/Max, FX, and Peacock — underscores the increasingly fragmented yet richly competitive nature of prestige television.
The concentration of “The Bear” nominations in guest categories rather than lead or supporting acting categories is an unusual development for a show that has historically swept the comedy acting awards. This shift may open the door for other contenders in the lead and supporting categories.
What’s Next
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will take place on September 14, 2026. As the television industry gathers to celebrate its top achievements, questions remain about who will host the ceremony and which shows will ultimately take home the industry’s highest honors. The nominations were originally reported by The New York Times.