2026 Emmys Predictions in Every Category

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Primetime Emmys Predictions Commentary All Categories (Updated: March 12, 2026): As one awards season ends, another in a different entertainment medium is set to begin.

The 79th Emmy Awards are still months away, with nominations arriving July 8 and the ceremony set for Sept. 14 on NBC and Peacock, but the conversation is already underway. With an eligibility window running through the end of May and the nomination voting period set for June 11 to 22, the field is both wide open and uniquely competitive as streaming giants and legacy networks vie for television’s most coveted honors.

On the drama side, HBO Max looks particularly formidable. Two-time, record-breaking Emmy winner Zendaya returns in “Euphoria,” possibly for the final season, under enormous expectations and with a fan base that simply will not quit. Noah Wyle is back with the sophomore season of the medical drama “The Pitt,” ready to defend his crown.

Apple TV+ continues to reward patient viewers with “Slow Horses,” while the freshman series “Pluribus,” led by Rhea Seehorn, has generated critical heat that suggests it will not be overlooked. Hulu is swinging hard with “The Testaments” and “Paradise,” the latter anchored by Sterling K. Brown in some of the most compelling work of his decorated career.

Paramount+ brings star power with another Taylor Sheridan project, “The Madison,” featuring Kurt Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer, a pairing clearly designed to grab Television Academy attention.

Netflix leans on nostalgia and cultural impact with the final season of “Stranger Things,” reminding voters of the show’s lasting significance. The streaming giant also returns with the third season of “The Diplomat,” following Keri Russell’s recent success at the Actor Awards, formerly the SAG Awards.

Comedy is even more crowded this year. HBO Max fields the final season of “Hacks” and the returning “The Comeback,” with Jean Smart once again a near-lock for lead actress recognition, even before the fifth season airs. Lisa Kudrow also reminds voters of her enduring comedic timing and iconic character.

FX’s “The Bear” set the standard for comedy in previous seasons, but the fourth season has generated less buzz than its predecessors. ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” continues to thrive, anchored by Quinta Brunson and a deep supporting cast including Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, and Tyler James Williams. Chris Perfetti or Lisa Ann Walter could join the Emmy conversation this season.

Apple TV+ has quietly delivered one of the warmest comedies with “Shrinking,” featuring a surprising turn from Harrison Ford, who will aim to claim the Emmy he lost last year. Netflix continues with the second season of “Nobody Wants This,” which earned Kristen Bell some of the season’s most enthusiastic praise. Prime Video debuts the highly anticipated “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat,” testing whether Emmy voters embrace the format-bending energy that made the original series so beloved.

The limited series and movie categories are equally competitive. HBO Max’s “Half Man” follows up the phenomenon of “Baby Reindeer” with another deeply personal, formally daring project from Richard Gadd, alongside Jamie Bell. FX offers “Love Story,” anchored by a stacked ensemble including Paul Anthony Kelly, Sarah Pidgeon, Alessandro Nivola, Grace Gummer, and Naomi Watts. Netflix juggles the already released “The Beast in Me,” reuniting Claire Danes with prestige drama, alongside the next edition of the dark anthology series “Beef,” showcasing Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny. Peacock’s “All Her Fault,” starring Sarah Snook fresh off her “Succession” triumph, is expected to mount one of the season’s most watched campaigns.

In the movie category, Netflix could dominate with “Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man,” a feature-length send-off for the beloved franchise, alongside “Happy Gilmore 2,” which may prove that populist comedy still has a place on the Emmy stage.

Acting races are exceptionally deep this season. Kathy Bates returns in the sophomore season of CBS’ “Matlock,” while dark horses such as Alexander Skarsgård in “Murderbot” and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Disney’s “Wonder Man” have strong advocates behind them. Comedy lead actress is likely the tightest race, featuring recent Oscar nominees Kate Hudson in Netflix’s “Running Point” and Elle Fanning in Apple TV+’s freshman series “Margo’s Got Money Troubles.”

Fox has a new entry this year, “Best Medicine,” premiering at the end of March and starring Josh Charles. The hour-long comedy-drama hybrid will be interesting to track for awards submission strategy. Fox also continues to field its animated flagship, “The Simpsons.”

AMC may no longer dominate as it did with “Breaking Bad,” but it could have a breakout with Jonathan Glatzer’s thriller “The Audacity,” starring Billy Magnussen and Sarah Goldberg, set against the backdrop of Silicon Valley.

Surveying the landscape this early, no single show or network is guaranteed to dominate, making the next few months genuinely exciting and wide open.

This list is nowhere complete, and the individual category pages will be released over the coming weeks. The race will change as fast as our channels do.

Projected nomination leaders (series): TBD

Projected nomination leaders (networks): Netflix (27); HBO Max (25); Apple TV (15); Hulu (10)

*** = PREDICTED WINNER
(All predicted nominees listed below are in alphabetical order)