Emmy Awards 2026: What to watch, who will win and everything you need to know
Television’s biggest night is nearly here, as the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards kick off on Tuesday.
Taking place at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, this year’s awards will be hosted by Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay, as Hollywood’s biggest shows vie to bring home the gongs.
All eyes are on Noah Wyle’s medical drama The Pitt, which leads the nominations with 25 in its second season, and has become one of television’s biggest breakout success stories.
Close behind is Hacks, with 24 nominations, which is the most for a comedy series in a single year.
But newcomers and fan favourites Widows Bay and Pluribus could cause some upsets with 19 and 18 nominations in their breakout seasons.
But if Emmy history has taught us anything, the shows with the most nominations don’t always get the big wins.
So who is going to win big?
The Pitt is widely expected to repeat its 2025 win for Outstanding Drama Series after maintaining critical acclaim in its second season. Star Noah Wyle is also the frontrunner for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, which he won last year. He is also nominated for producing and directing the drama.
For comedy, all signs point to one final celebration for Hacks in its last season. Jean Smart is once again the frontrunner to bring home the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Award, which would be her fifth after winning for the show’s other four seasons.
Horror-comedy Widow’s Bay is expected to take out some acting, writing and directing wins, and Matthew Rhys is tipped to be named Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Science-fiction drama Pluribus could cause some upsets for The Pitt in the drama categories and the show’s lead, Rhea Seehorn, is heavily favoured for a win in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category.
And for limited series, Beef heads into the ceremony as the category favourite, with 16 nominations, while dark comedy DTF St Louis will be its challenger.
Are there any New Zealand nominations?
No New Zealand-led productions or actors feature among the major programme nominees this year, but New Zealand visual-effects powerhouse Wētā FX took home a Creative Arts Emmy at Monday’s awards for their work on the final season of Stranger Things.
New Zealander Jaime Leigh McIntosh picked up the Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling Creative Arts Emmy for her work on Margot’s Got Money Troubles.
What to watch before the 2026 Emmy Awards – and where you can watch them in New Zealand?
It’s not too late to get a taste of some of this year’s nominees. Here’s where you can watch our Emmy picks:
The Pitt – HBO Max
Noah Wyle stars in the critically acclaimed medical drama that follows a hospital across a day, with one hour being portrayed across one episode. It leads all Emmy nominees with 25 and has become one of HBO Max’s biggest hits in recent times.
Hacks – Hayu
The iconic Jean Smart returns as legendary comedian Deborah Vance in the fifth and final season of the Emmy favourite comedy. The first three seasons of the series are available free for New Zealand viewers on TVNZ+, while the fourth and fifth are streaming on Hayu.
Widow’s Bay – Apple TV+
Apple TV+’s breakout horror-comedy follows a coastal community plagued by eerie supernatural events. Starring Matthew Rhys, it is one of the year’s most exciting shows and nominations.
Pluribus – Apple TV+
Rhea Seehorn leads this ambitious science-fiction drama about an author who is one of only 13 people immune to an extra-terrestrial virus. It’s emerged as one of the surprise potential success stories of the awards show, earning 18 nominations.
Beef – Netflix
The second instalment of the anthology series this time follows two couples who become entangled in manipulation and power-plays after one side witness the other engage in a vicious fight. It’s among the strongest limited-series contenders of the year and picked up 16 Emmy nominations.
The Bear – Disney+
Despite facing stiff competition from Hacks, the acclaimed kitchen-set comedy-drama remains a major awards player. The late Rob Reiner won a posthumous Emmy for his role in the show at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Shrinking – Apple TV+
Jason Segel and Harrison Ford’s comedy, about a grieving therapist who decides to give his clients brutally honest advice, continues to attract Emmy attention and is nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Only Murders in the Building – Disney+
Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez return in another awards-recognised season of the popular mystery-comedy about three strangers who live in a New York City apartment building and team up to solve suspicious deaths.
How can Kiwis watch the awards?
There is no dedicated live New Zealand broadcaster, or stream that New Zealanders can access, currently confirmed for the event.
However, Kiwi viewers can keep up to date at nzherald.co.nz/entertainment from 10am.