The 2026 Emmy Nominations Are In: "Hacks" Breaks a Comedy Record and "The Pitt" Leads All Shows
The Television Academy announced the nominees for the 78th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on July 8, 2026, and two HBO Max shows dominated the conversation from the start. "The Pitt" received 25 nominations to lead all programs, while "Hacks" pulled in 24, the most any comedy has ever received in a single year.
Hacks makes Emmy history in its final season
The milestone for "Hacks" is genuinely striking. Its fifth and final season nearly doubled its previous nomination totals, beating the record of 23 set by "The Bear" in 2024 and matched by "The Studio" in 2025. It also surpassed "Schitt's Creek" for the most nominations ever received by a comedy in its final season, breaking a record that had stood since 2020.
Jean Smart received her fifth consecutive nomination for her portrayal of Deborah Vance, the foul-mouthed Las Vegas legend at the show's center. If she wins, she would become only the second performer in Emmy history to win for every season of a series running three or more years. The only other person who achieved that was Bill Cosby, for "I Spy" from 1966 to 1968.
The show's success reflects how completely the TV Academy has rallied behind it. Ten actors from "Hacks" account for the bulk of its 24 nominations. Five of the seven Guest Actress in a Comedy Series nominees are from "Hacks" alone.
The Pitt holds its frontrunner status
"The Pitt" won Outstanding Drama Series in 2025, and its second season came back stronger. Noah Wyle earned nominations for acting, directing, and producing. The show has three Supporting Actor nominees (Patrick Ball, Shawn Hatosy, and Gerran Howell) and four Supporting Actress contenders. In its second season, it nearly doubled its first-season nomination total.
The drama field it faces includes "The Diplomat," "The Gilded Age," "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms," "Paradise," "Pluribus," "Slow Horses," and "Your Friends and Neighbors."
The breakout shows worth watching
Two new shows made the biggest impression among first-year contenders. "Widow's Bay," a dark comedy about a haunted New England island, earned 19 nominations, with acting nods for Matthew Rhys, Stephen Root, Dale Dickey, and Kate O'Flynn. "Pluribus," from "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan, pulled in 18, led by Rhea Seehorn's return to Emmy contention after twice losing for "Better Call Saul."
HBO Max led all platforms with 122 nominations total. Netflix followed with 111, and Apple TV+ had its best year ever with 89.
When the ceremony airs
The 78th Emmy Awards will air live on NBC and Peacock on Monday, September 14, at 8 p.m. ET. "Law and Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay will host, marking the first time a woman has hosted the ceremony in 15 years and the first Emmy host not primarily known for comedy in nearly two decades.
The Creative Arts Emmys, where the majority of trophies are actually presented, take place the prior weekend on September 5 and 6.
For "Hacks," the numbers already tell part of the story. Twenty-four nominations is a new ceiling for comedy television. Whether it converts that into wins on September 14 is the next question.