On-screen diversity among the 2026 Emmy nominees has dropped to its lowest level in 11 years, with just 22 nominees of colour across the acting, reality and game show host categories. That is down 21% on last year's 28 and marks the smallest tally since 2015, when only 18 performers of colour were recognised. The decline matters as a barometer of representation in television, coming a long way short of the 2021 peak of 49, which was buoyed by nominations for Lovecraft Country and Hamilton.

Four categories featured no nominees of colour this year — Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Guest Drama Actress and Guest Comedy Actor and Actress — one more than last year's three. Colman Domingo was the only person of colour nominated in two acting slots, while notable nominees included Zendaya, Quinta Brunson, Sterling K. Brown, Ayo Edebiri and Riz Ahmed. Behind the camera, Salli Richardson-Whitfield made history as the first Black woman to earn two drama directing nominations in the same year, for The Gilded Age and Task.