By Benson Daniel
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will bring some of television’s biggest productions and performers into contention on September 14, with several closely watched categories expected to produce major moments.
HBO Max’s The Pitt leads the field with 25 nominations and is among the strongest contenders for Outstanding Drama Series. The medical drama is seeking to build on its success from the previous awards season, while star Noah Wyle is competing for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Apple TV’s Pluribus is one of the major challengers in the drama field, with Rhea Seehorn receiving significant attention for her performance in the lead actress category. Other nominees for Outstanding Drama Series include The Gilded Age, Paradise, Slow Horses, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Diplomat and Your Friends & Neighbors.
The comedy race is equally competitive. Hacks, in its final season, received a record 24 comedy nominations and is competing for Outstanding Comedy Series. Widow’s Bay, which earned 19 nominations, has emerged as a major challenger after performing strongly at the Creative Arts Emmys.
Other nominees in the comedy series category include Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Only Murders in the Building and other leading television productions. Jean Smart is also seeking another Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award for Hacks, which would give her a fifth consecutive win in the category.
In the limited or anthology series categories, DTF St. Louis is among the leading contenders. The programme has already collected several awards during the Creative Arts ceremonies, strengthening its position ahead of the main event.
The acting categories also feature several high-profile contests. Matthew Rhys has attracted particular attention after receiving nominations in both drama and limited-series categories, while Carey Mulligan and Oscar Isaac are among the leading names in the limited-series acting races.
The 2026 ceremony will be hosted by actress Mariska Hargitay and held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards were held on September 5 and 6, with the main Primetime ceremony scheduled for September 14.
The awards come after a strong showing by several productions at the Creative Arts ceremonies, where Widow’s Bay collected eight awards and the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show featuring Bad Bunny won seven.
With The Pitt and Pluribus battling for drama honours and Hacks facing a serious challenge from Widow’s Bay in comedy, the main Emmy ceremony is expected to deliver several of the night’s biggest television moments.
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