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.
THE TESTAMENTS – “Daisy”
Courtesy of Disney/Steve Wilkie
Primetime Emmys Predictions Commentary All Categories (Updated: April 23, 2026): We’re deep in the thick of the Emmy season, with submissions rolling in and a wave of new and returning series making the cutoff ahead of the May 31 eligibility deadline.
The cast of HBO Max’s “DTF St. Louis” is set to campaign in supporting categories, opening the door for multiple performers to gain traction. Among the most notable are Jason Bateman and David Harbour, both of whom are in play for potential double nominations — not only as executive producers, but also for acting. Bateman is eyeing recognition for the miniseries “Black Rabbit,” while Harbour remains a contender for the final season of “Stranger Things.”
Prime Video is making a strong push with the comedy “Jury Duty: Company Retreat,” submitting 19 actors across supporting and guest categories. There’s particular emphasis on Episode 7, “Mergers and Acquisitions,” which is shaping up to be a key submission for director Jake Szymanski. “The episode highlights the real emotion and humanity Anthony could bring only because of the world so brilliantly built by our cast and crew,” Szymanski tells Variety. “It was an extreme challenge, but extremely rewarding, to construct this world for months and put the pieces in place to capture this climax in real time. I’ve never experienced anything else like it.”
Amazon is also backing the British comedy “Bait,” starring Riz Ahmed, with plans to compete in the limited series category — a field that could prove less crowded this year, as Variety recently covered. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Starz’s upcoming “Amadeus” will instead be submitted for the International Emmys, taking it out of the Primetime race.
Elisabeth Moss successfully petitioned to compete in the guest drama actress category for Hulu’s “The Testaments,” the spinoff of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” for which she won lead drama actress in 2017.
Netflix’s second installment of its anthology series “Beef” arrived to strong acclaim and is widely expected to be a major contender, with acting bids likely for Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny and Yuh-jung Youn. Sprinkle in the added possibility that Song Kang Ho as well. That’s a “beefy” Emmy haul (pun intended). We’ll see how it’s ultimately embraced.
This week also marks the debut of Richard Gadd’s “Half Man” for viewers, which arrives following a more mixed-to-positive critical response than anticipated. The series currently holds a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 37 reviews.
Variety chief TV critic Aramide Tinubu praised the show, writing: “‘Half Man’ is an excellent but difficult watch. A viciousness runs through the narrative, with countless acts of violence depicted. For those who stick it out, the final episode features one of the most emotionally shattering scenes on television.”
Despite the reviews, the series is still expected to be a significant player in the limited series race, particularly for star Jamie Bell. The six-episode British drama from the creator of “Baby Reindeer” has the goods to be an acting juggernaut, though it remains unclear how its four central actors — Gadd, Bell, Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson — will ultimately be submitted.
Several category configurations are possible, but the most logical approach would place Bell and Robertson — who portray older and younger versions of Niall Kennedy — in lead, with Gadd and Campbell — playing older and younger versions of Ruben Pallister — competing in supporting.
This week’s latest predictions are below, with the first overall looks at the directing, writing, casting, animated program, structured and unstructured reality categories, and the first ranking category charts debuting for supporting actor for drama, comedy and limited/movie.
NOTE: All official category placements in predictions have yet to be confirmed.
Upcoming key dates: category submissions are due May 7, with eligibility ending May 31. Nomination voting runs from June 11-22, with nominations being announced on July 8. Final voting takes place Aug. 17–26, leading into the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Governors Gala on Sept. 5-6. The Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will be on Sept. 14 on NBC.
Projected nomination leaders (series): “The Pitt” (13); “Shrinking” (11); “Beef” and “Hacks” (10); “Pluribus” (9); “DTF St. Louis,” “Half Man” and “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette” (7)
Projected nomination leaders (networks): HBO Max (53); Netflix (44); Apple TV (32); FX and Hulu (17); ABC (9)
*** = PREDICTED WINNER
(All predicted nominees listed below are in alphabetical order)
-
Drama Series
Image Credit: Apple TV “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
“Euphoria” (HBO Max)
“Paradise” (Hulu)
“The Pitt” (HBO Max) ***
“Pluribus” (Apple TV)
“Slow Horses” (Apple TV)
“Stranger Things” (Netflix)
“The Testaments” (Hulu)Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Comedy Series
Image Credit: NBC “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
“The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” (NBC)
“Hacks” (HBO Max) ***
“Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat” (Prime Video)
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” (Apple TV)
“Nobody Wants This” (Netflix)
“Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
“Shrinking” (Apple TV)Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Limited or Anthology Series
Image Credit: Netflix “Beef” (Netflix) ***
“DTF St. Louis” (HBO Max)
“Half Man” (HBO Max)
“Lord of the Flies” (Netflix)
“Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette” (FX)Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Outstanding Movie
Image Credit: Netflix “Deep Cover” (Prime Video)
“Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice” (Hulu)
“Miss You, Love You” (HBO Max)
“Remarkably Bright Creatures” (Netflix) ***
“People We Meet on Vacation” (Netflix)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Lead Actor (Drama)
Image Credit: HBO Max Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise” (Hulu)
Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses” (Apple TV)
Billy Magnussen, “The Audacity” (AMC)
Mark Ruffalo, “Task” (HBO Max)
Noah Wyle, “The Pitt” (HBO Max) ***Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Lead Actor (Comedy)
Image Credit: HBO Max Steve Carell, “Rooster” (HBO Max)
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
Tracy Morgan, “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” (NBC)
Jason Segel, “Shrinking” (Apple TV) ***
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Lead Actor (Limited/Movie)
Image Credit: Netflix Jason Bateman, “Black Rabbit” (Netflix)
Jamie Bell, “Half Man” (HBO Max) ***
Charlie Hunnam, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (Netflix)
Oscar Isaac, “Beef” (Netflix)
Matthew Rhys, “The Beast in Me” (Netflix)Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Lead Actress (Drama)
Image Credit: Hulu Chase Infiniti, “The Testaments” (Hulu)
Michelle Pfeiffer, “The Madison” (Paramount+)
Keri Russell, “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
Rhea Seehorn, “Pluribus” (Apple TV) ***
Zendaya, “Euphoria” (HBO Max)Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Lead Actress (Comedy)
Image Credit: Apple TV Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This” (Netflix)
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Elle Fanning, “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” (Apple TV)
Lisa Kudrow, “The Comeback” (HBO Max)
Jean Smart, “Hacks” (HBO Max) ***Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Lead Actress (Limited/Movie)
Image Credit: Netflix Claire Danes, “The Beast in Me” (Netflix)
Carey Mulligan, “Beef” (Netflix) ***
Sarah Pidgeon, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette” (FX)
Tessa Thompson, “His and Hers” (Netflix)
Kerry Washington, “Imperfect Women” (Apple TV)Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Supporting Actor (Drama)
Image Credit: HBO Max Patrick Ball, “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show” (Apple TV)
Colman Domingo, “Euphoria” (HBO Max)
Zach Galifianakis, “The Audacity” (AMC)
Jack Lowden, “Slow Horses” (Apple TV)
Tom Pelphrey, “Task” (HBO Max) ***
Kurt Russell, “The Madison” (Paramount+)
Carlos-Manuel Vesga, “Pluribus” (Apple TV)Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Supporting Actor (Comedy)
Image Credit: NBC Paul W. Downs, “Hacks” (HBO Max)
Harrison Ford, “Shrinking” (Apple TV) ***
Ben Kingsley, “Wonder Man” (Disney+)
Bobby Moynihan, “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” (NBC)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear” (FX)
Nick Offerman, “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” (Apple TV)
Michael Urie, “Shrinking” (Apple TV)
Bowen Yang, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Supporting Actor (Limited/Movie)
Image Credit: HBO Max Jason Bateman, “DTF St. Louis” (HBO Max)
Stuart Campbell, “Half Man” (HBO Max)
Richard Gadd, “Half Man” (HBO Max)
David Harbour, “DTF St. Louis” (HBO Max) ***
Song Kang Ho, “Beef” (Netflix)
Charles Melton, “Beef” (Netflix)
Alessandro Nivola, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette” (FX)Emmy category page with rankings>>>
-
Supporting Actress (Drama)
Image Credit: Hulu Marisa Abela, “Industry” (HBO Max)
Isa Briones, “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Taylor Dearden, “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Allison Janney, “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
Katherine LaNasa, “The Pitt” (HBO Max) ***
Sepideh Moafi, “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Julianne Nicholson, “Paradise” (Hulu)
Karolina Wydra, “Pluribus” (Apple TV)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Supporting Actress (Comedy)
Image Credit: ABC Erika Alexander, “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” (NBC)
Danielle Deadwyler, “Rooster” (HBO Max)
Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks” (HBO Max) ***
Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Li Jun Li, “Spider-Noir” (Prime Video)
Annie Mumolo, “Rooster” (HBO Max)
Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Jessica Williams, “Shrinking” (Apple TV)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Supporting Actress (Limited/Movie)
Image Credit: FX Linda Cardellini, “DTF St. Louis” (HBO Max) ***
Grace Gummer, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette” (FX)
Laurie Metcalf, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (Netflix)
Cailee Spaeny, “Beef” (Netflix)
Naomi Watts, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette” (FX)
Yuh-Jung Youn, “Beef” (Netflix)
Constance Zimmer, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette” (FX)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Guest Actor (Drama)
Image Credit: Paramount+ Eric Dane, “Euphoria” (HBO Max)
Paul Giamatti, “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” (Paramount+)
Shawn Hatosy, “The Pitt” (HBO Max) ***
Jeff Kober, “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Samba Schutte, “Pluribus” (Apple TV)
Bradley Whitford, “The Diplomat” (Netflix)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Guest Actress (Drama)
Image Credit: CBS Tal Anderson, “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Yvette Nicole Brown, “Matlock” (CBS)
Tatiana Maslany, “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” (Paramount+)
Elisabeth Moss, “The Testaments” (Hulu)
Miriam Shor, “Pluribus” (Apple TV)
Shailene Woodley, “Paradise” (Hulu) ***Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Guest Actor (Comedy)
Image Credit: Apple TV Jon Bernthal, “The Bear” (FX)
Jeff Daniels, “Shrinking” (Apple TV)
Tony Goldwyn, “Hacks” (HBO Max)
Michael J. Fox, “Shrinking” (Apple TV) ***
Rob Reiner, “The Bear” (FX)
Alan Ruck, “Rooster” (HBO Max)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Guest Actress (Comedy)
Image Credit: FX Candice Bergen, “Shrinking” (Apple TV)
Jamie Lee Curtis, “The Bear” (FX)
Danielle Deadwyler, “The Bear” (FX)
Cherry Jones, “Hacks” (HBO Max)
Laurie Metcalf, “Hacks” (HBO Max)
Amy Poehler, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC) ***Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Directing (Drama)
Image Credit: Netflix “The Diplomat” (Netflix) — Alex Graves, “Schrodinger’s Wife”
“Euphoria” (HBO Max) — Sam Levinson, “In God We Trust”
“Paradise” (Hulu) — Ken Olin, “A Holy Change”
“The Pitt” (HBO Max) — John Wells, “9:00 P.M.”
“Pluribus” (Apple TV) — Vince Gilligan, “We Is Us” ***
“Slow Horses” (Apple TV) — Saul Metzstein, “Scars”
“Stranger Things” (Netflix) — The Duffer Brothers, “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up”Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Directing (Comedy)
Image Credit: Prime Video “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) — Randall Einhorn, “Miami”
“Hacks” (HBO Max) — Lucia Aniello, “TBD Series Finale” ***
“Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat” (Prime Video) — Jake Szymanski, “Mergers & Acquisitions”
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” (Apple TV) — Dearbhla Walsh, “Flamingoes”
“The Ms. Pat Show” (BET) — Mary Lou Belli, “Killin’ and Dyin’”
“Rooster” (HBO Max) — Jonathan Krisel, “Release the Brown Fat”
“Shrinking” (Apple TV) — Randall Keenan Winston, “And That’s Our Time”Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Directing (Limited/Movie)
Image Credit: Netflix “Beef” (Netflix) — Jake Schreier, “It Will Stay This Way and You Will Obey” ***
“Black Rabbit” (Netflix) — Jason Bateman, “The Black Rabbits”
“Death by Lightning” (Netflix) — Matt Ross, “Series”
“DTF St. Louis” (HBO Max) — Steven Conrad, “Series”
“Half Man” (HBO Max) — Alexandra Brodski, “TBD Episode 1”
“Lord of the Flies” (Netflix) — Marc Munden, “Series”Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Writing (Drama)
Image Credit: HBO Max “The Audacity” (AMC) — “Best of All Possible Worlds” by Jonathan Glatzer
“The Diplomat” (Netflix) — “Schrodinger’s Wife” by Debora Cahn
“Industry” (HBO Max) — “Both, And” by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay
“Paradise” (Hulu) — “Exodus” by John Hoberg and Seena Haddad
“The Pitt” (HBO Max) — “9:00 P.M.” by R. Scott Gemmill
“Pluribus” (Apple TV) — “We Is Us” by Vince Gilligan
“Slow Horses” (Apple TV) — “Scars” by Will Smith ***Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Writing (Comedy)
Image Credit: HBO Max “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) — “Team Building” by Quinta Brunson
“The Bear” (FX) — “Goodbye” by Christopher Storer
“The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” (NBC) — “Pilot” by Robert Carlock and Sam Means
“Hacks” (HBO Max) — “TBD Series Finale” by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky
“Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat” (Prime Video) — “Onboarding” by Anthony King
“The Lowdown” (FX) — “Pilot” by Sterlin Harjo
“Shrinking” (Apple TV) — “And That’s Our Time” by Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein and Neil Goldman ***Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Writing (Limited/Movie)
Image Credit: Hulu “Beef” (Netflix) — “Episode 8” by Lee Sung Jin and Anna Ouyang Moench
“Black Rabbit” (Netflix) — “The Cyclone” by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman
“DTF St. Louis” (HBO Max) — Series by Steven Conrad
“Half Man” (HBO Max) — Series by Richard Gadd ***
“Lord of the Flies” (Netflix) — Series by Jack Thorne
“Washington Black” (Hulu) — “The Flying Man & the Musician” by Selwyn Seyfu HindsEmmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Variety Series
Image Credit: ABC “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC) ***
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO Max)
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Casting (Drama)
Image Credit: Apple TV “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
“Paradise” (Hulu)
“The Pitt” (HBO Max) ***
“Pluribus” (Apple TV)
“Slow Horses” (Apple TV)
“The Testaments” (Hulu)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Casting (Comedy)
Image Credit: FX “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
“The Bear” (FX)
“Hacks” (HBO Max)
“The Lowdown” (FX)
“Shrinking” (Apple TV) ***
“Spider-Noir” (Prime Video)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Casting (Limited/Movie)
Image Credit: Netflix “Beef” (Netflix)
“Death by Lightning” (Netflix)
“Half Man” (HBO Max)
“Lord of the Flies” (Netflix) ***
“Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette” (FX)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Competition Program
Image Credit: CBS “The Amazing Race” (CBS)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (MTV)
“Survivor” (CBS) ***
“Top Chef” (Bravo)
“The Traitors” (Peacock)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Game Show
Image Credit: Dropout “Celebrity Family Feud” (Syndicated)
“Game Changer” (Dropout)
“Jeopardy” (Syndicated) ***
“The Price is Right” (Syndicated)
“Wheel of Fortune” (Syndicated)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Host for Reality/Competition Program
Image Credit: CBS RuPaul Charles, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (MTV)
Alan Cumming, “The Traitors” (Peacock)
Kristen Kish, “Top Chef” (Bravo)
Padma Lakshmi, “America’s Culinary Cup” (CBS)
Jeff Probst, “Survivor” (CBS) ***Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Structured Reality Program
Image Credit: Netflix “Antiques Roadshow” (PBS)
“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” (Food Network)
“Love is Blind” (Netflix)
“Queer Eye” (Netflix) ***
“Shark Tank” (ABC)Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
-
Unstructured Reality Program
Image Credit: Netflix “Funny AF with Kevin Hart” (Netflix)
“Love is Blind” (Netflix)
“Love on the Spectrum” (Netflix) ***
“Queer Eye” (Netflix)
“Welcome to Wrexham” (FX) -
Animated Program
Image Credit: Disney “Bob’s Burgers” (Fox)
“King of the Hill” (Hulu)
“Mating Season” (Netflix)
“Rick and Morty” (Adult Swim)
“The Simpsons” (Fox) ***Emmy category page with rankings>>>Coming Soon
