As the 2026 Primetime Emmy nominations were announced on the morning of 8 July, Variety gathered candid first reactions from a range of nominated stars, capturing the mix of surprise, emotion and humour that greeted the news. The piece matters as a snapshot of how the industry's talent responded in real time, with some woken from naps, others caught mid-appointment and several moved to tears.

Jonathan Pryce, 79, earned his fourth Emmy nod for "Slow Horses" and joked about joining "Love Island" while calling for more varied roles for older actors. "The Pitt" stars Sepideh Moafi — the first person of Middle Eastern descent nominated for supporting drama actress — and Katherine LaNasa were tearful, while Shailene Woodley learned of her "Paradise" nomination during a lash lift. The "Hacks" team of Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky reflected on their final season becoming the most-nominated comedy season in Emmy history, crediting the cast and crew behind the show.