We’re one step closer to television’s biggest night, with the nominees for the 2026 Emmy Awards officially revealed. While usual frontrunners like The Pitt, Hacks and The Bear have once again cleaned up, this year’s nominations weren’t without their surprises and, of course, a few glaring omissions.
From Jeremy Allen White’s unexpected absence to a full Industry shutout, the nominations have already sparked plenty of debate among critics and fans alike. At the same time, first-time nominees, breakout performances and a handful of left-field picks proved there’s still room for the Television Academy to keep us guessing.
Ahead of the ceremony this September, the biggest snubs and surprises from the 2026 Emmy nominations, below.
Snub: Industry misses out once again
We can’t believe it either. Despite delivering one of its strongest seasons yet, the HBO series was once again shut out of the major categories. It’s become something of an annual tradition for critics to champion the finance drama, only for Emmy voters to overlook it entirely. With a fifth season still on the horizon, perhaps there’s hope that next year will finally be its year.
For the first time since The Bear premiered, Jeremy Allen White isn’t in the running for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The omission is particularly surprising given the show continued to receive recognition across several categories, including nominations for Ayo Edebiri and Outstanding Comedy Series.
Surprise: The Pitt is the show to beat
Well, is it really a surprise? The acclaimed medical drama has once again emerged as one of this year’s most-nominated series, after taking home a whopping five awards at last year’s Emmys. Heading into September’s ceremony, The Pitt again looks like the series everyone will be chasing.
Snub: Nobody Wants This loses momentum
After a strong first awards season, stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody were both absent from the acting categories, with the series ultimately receiving just two nominations this year. While it still secured a place in the Comedy Series category, it looks like the show’s early momentum may have cooled in favour of newer shows.
Surprise: Connor Storrie is nominated (but not for Heated Rivalry)
Fans hoping to see Heated Rivalry recognised were always going to be disappointed – because the series is backed by Canadian production companies rather than American ones, it isn’t eligible for the Emmys. But even so, Connor Storrie managed to earn his first Emmy nomination for hosting Saturday Night Liv. He’s actually the only guest host recognised in the category this year.
Snub: Paul Anthony Kelly misses out for Love Story
Love Story managed to earn acting nominations for Sarah Pidgeon and Constance Zimmer, but Paul Anthony Kelly, was notably absent. In a particularly competitive Limited Series category, Emmy voters instead favoured performances from Riz Ahmed and Jason Bateman, leaving one of the year’s most talked-about leading performances without recognition.
Surprise: Widow’s Bay exceeds expectations
Widow’s Bay premiered towards the end of the Emmy eligibility window, but still managed an impressive haul of nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series and recognition for Matthew Rhys. If you’ve binged the series, you’ll know this isn’t actually a huge surprise.
Surprise: Your Friends & Neighbours lands a Drama Series nomination
Apple TV’s Your Friends & Neighbours missed out on any major nominations in season one, but this year, managed a spot on the Outstanding Drama Series list. Interestingly, lead Jon Hamm was overlooked in the Lead Actor category, but we’re glad the show is at least getting some recognition.
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