2026 Emmy Nominations Are Here: The Pitt, Hacks, and Widow's Bay Dominate With Record-Breaking Nods

2026 Emmy Nominations Are Here: The Pitt, Hacks, and Widow's Bay Dominate

The 2026 Primetime Emmy nominations are officially out, and this year's list is packed with surprises, record-breaking moments, and first-time nominees. The Television Academy announced the full lineup on Wednesday, July 8, with The Pitt leading the pack at 25 nominations, followed closely by comedy heavyweight Hacks with a historic 24 nods. If you're wondering what to binge before the big ceremony on September 14, here's your cheat sheet.

The Top 5 Shows With the Most Nominations

Here's a quick look at the shows that absolutely crushed it this year:

The Pitt (HBO Max) — 25 nominations. Noah Wyle's medical drama is the one to beat after taking home the Drama Series trophy last year. The show's 13 acting nominations alone are a massive flex.
Hacks (HBO Max) — 24 nominations. Jean Smart's beloved comedy just broke Schitt's Creek's record for the most Emmy noms ever for a comedy series in a single season. Legend behavior.
Widow's Bay (Apple TV+) — 19 nominations. This horror-comedy came out of nowhere and became Apple TV+'s secret weapon. Hamish Linklater scored a first-time nomination for his scene-stealing performance.
Pluribus (Apple TV+) — 18 nominations. Another Apple freshman hit. Carlos-Manuel Vesga's first-time nomination could make history as the first Colombian actor to win Best Supporting Actor in a drama series.
Beef (Netflix) — 16 nominations. The anthology series returned with a vengeance, earning Oscar winner Carey Mulligan and Charles Melton their first Emmy nods.

Records Shattered and First-Timers Stealing the Spotlight

This year's nominations are all about milestones. Hacks didn't just break the comedy series record — it demolished it. The previous record holder was Schitt's Creek with 20 nominations in 2020, and before that, 30 Rock held the crown with 13. Jean Smart, who plays Deborah Vance, is now five nominations deep in the Lead Actress in a Comedy category and has won all four times so far. If she wins again, she'll tie Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman with eight acting Emmys — the most ever.

Over in drama, The Pitt dominated with 25 nominations, and its cast is finally getting the recognition they deserve. Sepideh Moafi made history as the first Iranian woman and first woman from the Middle East nominated for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Other first-time nominees from the show include Patrick Ball, Gerran Howell, Shawn Hatosy, and Fiona Dourif.

On the reality side, Dancing With the Stars shimmied its way back into the competition category after a decade-long absence. And Lisa Kudrow landed her first acting Emmy nomination in over a decade for reprising Valerie Cherish in HBO's The Comeback — a full-circle moment for Friends fans everywhere.

What to Watch Before the Ceremony

With the Emmy Awards set for September 14 on NBC and Peacock, now's the perfect time to catch up. Stream The Pitt on HBO Max for gripping medical drama, binge Hacks for razor-sharp comedy, or dive into Widow's Bay on Apple TV+ if you're in the mood for something dark and funny. Beef on Netflix is a must-watch if you missed the latest season, and Pluribus is shaping up to be Apple's next big thing.

Whether you're rooting for your favorite show or discovering something new, the 2026 Emmys are shaping up to be one of the most exciting nights in television history. Mark your calendars for September 14 — and start streaming now.