The 2026 Primetime Emmy nominations will be announced on Wednesday 8 July, revealing which programmes and performers make the shortlist for this year's awards. The announcement matters as an early indicator of the television season's frontrunners, with attention on how many nods The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny receives, and whether stars such as Zendaya, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Finneas and Michael Stipe feature in acting and music categories.

Nominations in key categories will be revealed via a livestream at 11.30am ET, viewable on the Television Academy website, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, hosted by Emmy winners Liza Colón-Zayas and Jeff Hiller alongside Academy chair Cris Abrego from North Hollywood. Two closely watched categories — outstanding variety series and outstanding reality competition programme — will be unveiled earlier on NBC's TODAY. Expected contenders include The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Last Week Tonight and Saturday Night Live, plus reigning reality champion The Traitors. The 78th Emmy Awards ceremony will air on NBC on Monday 14 September.