On the morning of the 2026 Emmy nominations, ahead of the ceremony on 14 September, a number of high-profile shows and performers were left out while several unexpected contenders broke through. The biggest talking point was Netflix's "Stranger Things", whose final season was shut out of the Best Drama and acting categories despite picking up recognition in below-the-line fields, while the newcomer horror series "Widow's Bay" stunned observers by landing 19 nominations despite a late-April launch.

Among the notable snubs, the final season of "Euphoria" secured nods only for Zendaya and Colman Domingo, leaving out previously nominated stars such as Sydney Sweeney; the "Game of Thrones" prequel "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" earned nine nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, but none for its actors; and most of the casts of "The Bear" (bar Ayo Edebiri) and "Only Murders in the Building" (with Selena Gomez missing an acting nod) were overlooked. Other surprises included "Dancing with the Stars" edging out "The Amazing Race" in Reality Competition for the first time in a decade, "Your Friends & Neighbors" earning a lone Best Drama Series nod, and Ariana Madix being recognised as host of "Love Island", while Paramount+ managed just a single nomination overall.