The 2026 Emmy nominations were announced Wednesday, and HBO Max emerged as the undisputed champion of television excellence. The medical drama ‘The Pitt’ secured an impressive 25 nominations in its second season, while the beloved comedy ‘Hacks’ made history with 24 nominations in its final season, breaking the all-time record for comedy series recognition.
HBO Max dominated the competition with 122 total nominations across all categories, claiming the top spots in both drama and comedy. ‘Hacks’ surpassed the previous comedy record held jointly by ‘The Studio’ and ‘The Bear.’ Star Jean Smart, who has won best comedy actress for four consecutive seasons, is heavily favored to claim her fifth trophy. Her co-star Hannah Einbinder earned her fifth nomination for supporting actress, while creator Paul W. Downs received recognition for acting, writing, and producing.
The emergency room series ‘The Pitt’ continued its winning momentum after a stellar debut season that included best drama series and best actor for Noah Wyle. This year, the show dominated the acting categories, with Wyle nominated again alongside Katherine LaNasa, Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, and Sepideh Moafi. The show captured four of seven supporting actress nominations and three supporting actor slots.
Apple TV also made a strong impression with new entries ‘Pluribus’ and ‘Widow’s Bay’ earning 18 and 19 nominations respectively. Rhea Seahorn is considered the frontrunner for best drama actress for her role in the Vince Gilligan-created ‘Pluribus.’ Meanwhile, Hollywood legend Harrison Ford could finally win an elite award for his work on ‘Shrinking,’ and Martin Short is expected to take home best comedy actor for ‘Only Murders in the Building.’
The nominations also featured some exciting surprises, including recognition for Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance and Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour – The Final Show’ concert special. The late Rob Reiner received a posthumous nomination for his guest appearance on ‘The Bear,’ adding an emotional touch to this year’s announcements.
