Report your concerns to Olivia Benson.
The 2026 Emmys will be hosted by “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star Mariska Hargitay – and the nominations were announced on Wednesday.
Most of the nominations went to expected shows, like “The Pitt,” “Hacks” and newcomer “Widow’s Bay,” but big stars like Jeremy Allen White, Paul Anthony Kelly and Sydney Sweeney got shut out.
And, even though “Heated Rivalry” breakout star Connor Storrie wasn’t eligible for the HBO/Crave series, he still managed to snag a surprise nod.
Mariska Hargitay (pictured as Olivia Benson in “Law and Order: SVU”) will host the 2026 Emmys. GC Images
The 2026 Emmy nominations were announced on Wednesday, and “The Pitt” (pictured with Noah Wyle) led the pack. Warrick Page/MAX
To be eligible, shows need to have aired between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026.
A slew of popular shows had their farewell seasons this year, including “Euphoria,” “Stranger Things,” “Hacks” and “The Bear.” Some of them got their swan songs with awards love, and some were shoved out the door empty-handed.
Keep reading for all the Emmys 2026 snubs and surprises.
Snubs:
Sydney Sweeney
Sydney Sweeney (pictured in “Euphoria” Season 3 with Alanna Ubach) got shut out. HBO
Whatever you think of Cassie’s (Sydney Sweeney) controversial OnlyFans storyline in the third and final season of HBO’s “Euphoria,” it’s hard to argue Sweeney didn’t commit to the role. The 28-year-old delivered one of the season’s most talked-about performances, even as the show’s final outing was met with a largely negative critical response.
While the odds were stacked against the cast in a critically maligned season, co-stars Zendaya and Colman Domingo still managed to score Emmy nominations. Sweeney, who earned an Emmy nod for “Euphoria” Season 2, seemed like she had a shot at repeating the feat but was ultimately shut out.
Paul Anthony Kelly
Paul Anthony Kelly (pictured with Sarah Pidgeon in “Love Story”) got snubbed. FX
The “Love Story” star, 38, generated plenty of buzz for his portrayal of John F. Kennedy Jr. in FX’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.” While the series earned a Best Limited or Anthology Series nomination and co-star Sarah Pidgeon picked up an acting nod, Kelly was notably absent from this year’s list of nominees.
‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins‘
Daniel Radcliffe and Tracy Morgan (pictured in “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins”) were snubbed. Peacock
NBC’s freshman comedy “Reggie Dinkins” struck out in its first trip to the Emmys. Despite starring Daniel Radcliffe and Tracy Morgan and earning strong reviews, the mockumentary failed to land a single nomination.
The shutout was especially surprising given the show’s positive reception, though the comedy categories were particularly crowded this year. Fortunately, “Reggie Dinkins” has already been renewed for Season 2, and with “Hacks” expected to be out of contention in 2027, the series could have a clearer path to Emmy recognition next year.
‘Half Man’
“Half Man” (pictured with Jamie Bell and Richard Gadd) got snubbed. Anne Binckebanck/HBO
After sweeping awards season with “Baby Reindeer,” Richard Gadd returned this year with another dark limited series, HBO’s “Half Man.” While the show earned strong reviews and generated plenty of conversation, it couldn’t replicate the Emmy success of Gadd’s breakout hit.
Gadd managed to score a Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie nomination, but that was the show’s only major recognition. “Half Man” was shut out of the Best Limited or Anthology Series race, and co-star Jamie Bell was also snubbed.
Jeremy Allen White
Jeremy Allen White (pictured in “The Bear” Season 5) got snubbed.
FX
Jeremy Allen White’s Emmy winning streak came to an end in what was expected to be his final year of eligibility for “The Bear.” While the FX hit still landed a Best Comedy Series nomination and co-star Ayo Edebiri earned a Best Actress in a Comedy Series nod, White was notably left out of the Best Actor in a Comedy Series race.
The actor, who received three consecutive Emmy nominations for “The Bear” and won twice, was edged out by a wave of newcomers to the category, including Steve Carell for HBO’s “Rooster,” Matthew Rhys for Apple TV+’s “Widow’s Bay” and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II for Disney+’s “Wonder Man.”
Ethan Hawke
Ethan Hawke (pictured in “The Lowdown”) got snubbed. FX
Ethan Hawke delivered an affable, vanity-free comedy performance in the FX series “The Lowdown.” He’s a major star, and the show was critically acclaimed. But, it was a crowded year for the Leading Actor in a Comedy race. The Oscar-nominated Hollywood veteran got overlooked.
Surprises:
‘Widow’s Bay’
New series “Widow’s Bay” earned 19 nominations. Apple TV+ via AP
While “Widow’s Bay” was widely expected to land Emmy nominations, few predicted it would emerge as one of the morning’s biggest success stories.
The Apple TV breakout horror-comedy racked up a staggering 19 nominations, putting it just behind “The Pitt” (25) and “Hacks” (24) and cementing itself as a legitimate awards powerhouse.
The impressive haul signals that Emmy voters embraced the freshman series far beyond the major categories, turning what looked like a promising contender into one of the biggest surprises of nomination day.
Jason Bateman
Jason Bateman (pictured in “Black Rabbit”) got a surprise nod. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Jason Bateman’s Emmy nomination for “Black Rabbit” came as one of the more unexpected surprises of the morning. The 57-year-old earned a Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie nod for the Netflix crime drama, while also scoring a Supporting Actor nomination for HBO’s “DTF St. Louis,” making it a rare double-duty year for the “Arrested Development” alum.
When “Black Rabbit” premiered last fall, it failed to generate much critical acclaim or audience buzz despite starring Bateman and Jude Law, quickly fading from the awards conversation. That’s what made Bateman’s nomination so surprising. While Law was shut out, Bateman managed to break into the category.
Connor Storrie
Connor Storrie was nominated for his turn hosting “Saturday Night Live.” Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
Although “Heated Rivalry” breakout star Connor Storrie, 25, wasn’t eligible for an Emmy for his career-making turn as Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov — the hockey romance series is produced by a Canadian media company — the Television Academy didn’t overlook him entirely.
Instead, Storrie earned a Guest Actor in a Comedy Series nomination for his stint hosting “Saturday Night Live,” giving the rising star his first Emmy nod.
The 2026 Emmys will be held live at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, airing Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
