The nominees have been announced, the campaigning is over and television’s biggest night is almost here. Now comes the fun part: predicting who will actually take home the gold at the 2026 Emmy Awards.
Below, you’ll find Parade’s final predictions for the major 2026 Emmy categories. These aren’t the official results—they’re our editorial picks for who we believe will win. See whether our predictions match yours, then watch the ceremony to find out how many we got right.
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When can I watch the 78th Emmys?
The Emmys will take place on Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Where can I watch the 78th Emmys?
The 78th Emmys will be broadcast live on NBC and streamed live on Peacock. You can also watch it on demand on Peacock.
Who will host the 78th Emmys?
Law & Order: SVU‘s Mariska Hargitay will host the 78th Emmys.
Which Shows Were Snubbed by the 2026 Emmys?
Several major shows were notably absent from this year’s top races. Stranger Things missed out, while series from Taylor Sheridan’s expanding television universe—including Landman, Tulsa King and Mayor of Kingstown—were also left off the nominees list. The critically acclaimed Death by Lightning earned recognition in technical categories but failed to break into the major series and acting races.
What actors got snubbed?
The Bear actors Jeremy White and Ebon Moss-Bachrach were left out of the Best Actor in a Comedy Series category though their counterpart, Ayo Edebiri, was nominated. While Martin Short was nominated for Only Murders in the Building, both Steve Martin and Selena Gomez were left off the list. Both Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen were left out of their category for their roles in Death by Lightning.
Related: ‘Game of Thrones’ Creators Take on the True Story of a Presidential Assassination in New Netflix Series ‘Death by Lightning’
Parade’s 2026 Emmy Predictions by Category
How to read our predictions: Every nominee is listed below, with PARADE’S PREDICTION identifying the show or performer our editors believe will win.
Outstanding Comedy Series
Apple TV
- Abbott Elementary
- The Bear
- Hacks
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Nobody Wants This
- Only Murders In The Building
- Shrinking
- Widow’s Bay – PARADE’S PREDICTION
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
FX
- All Her Fault
- The Beast In Me
- Beef
- DTF St. Louis
- Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette – PARADE’S PREDICTION
Related: FX’s ‘Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette’ is the Show to Watch! Episode Guide, Complete Cast and How to Watch
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Netflix
- The Gilded Age – Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell
- The Testaments – Chase Infiniti as Agnes
- The Diplomat – Keri Russell as Kate Wyle – PARADE’S PREDICTION
- Pluribus – Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka
- Euphoria – Zendaya as Rue
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
HBO
- Paradise – Sterling K. Brown as Xavier Collins
- Slow Horses – Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb
- Task – Mark Ruffalo as Tom Brandis
- The Diplomat – Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyle
- The Pitt – Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch – PARADE’S PREDICTION
Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series
HBO
- The Gilded Age – “My Mind Is Made Up”
Salli Richardson Whitfield - Paradise – “Exodus”
Hanelle M. Culpepper - The Pitt – “12:00 P.M.”
Noah Wyle –PARADE’S PREDICTION - Pluribus – “We Is Us”
Vince Gilligan - Slow Horses – “Scars”
Saul Metzstein - Task – “Out Beyond Ideas Of Wrongdoing And Rightdoing”
Salli Richardson Whitfield
Related: ‘The Pitt’ Season 3 Will Deviate From Its Previous Formula: Here’s How
Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series
HBO
- The Diplomat – “Amagansett”
Peter Ackerman, Debora Cahn - The Pitt – “1:00 P.M.”
Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman, R. Scott Gemmill –PARADE’S PREDICTION
- The Pitt – “12:00 P.M.”
Valerie Chu - Pluribus – “We Is Us”
Vince Gilligan - Slow Horses – “Scars”
Will Smith - Task – “A Still Small Voice”
Brad Ingelsby
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
HBO
- Abbott Elementary
Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues - The Bear
Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu - Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Elle Fanning as Margo Millet - The Comeback
Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish - Hacks
Jean Smart as Deborah Vance – PARADE’S PREDICTION
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Apple TV
- Wonder Man
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams - Rooster
Steve Carell as Greg Russo - Widow’s Bay
Matthew Rhys as Mayor Tom Loftis – PARADE’S PREDICTION - Shrinking
Jason Segel as Jimmy - Only Murders In The Building
Martin Short as Oliver Putnam
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
Apple TV
- Abbott Elementary – “Ballgame”
Randall Einhorn - The Bear – “Bears”
Christopher Storer - The Chair Company – “Life Goes By Too F**king Fast, It Really Does.”
Andrew DeYoung - Hacks – “Hacks (Finale)”
Lucia Aniello - The Ms. Pat Show – “Give It Arrest”
Mary Lou Belli - Widow’s Bay – “Welcome To Widow’s Bay!”
Hiro Murai – PARADE’S PREDICTION
Related: ‘Widows Bay’ Turns a Haunted Beach Town Into TV’s Most Talked-About New Show
Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
HBO
- Abbott Elementary – “Team Building”
Quinta Brunson - The Chair Company – “Life Goes By Too F**king Fast, It Really Does.”
Tim Robinson, Zach Kanin - The Comeback – “Valerie Does It All”
Michael Patrick King, Lisa Kudrow
- Hacks – “Hacks (Finale)”
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky – PARADE’S PREDICTION - Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat – “Mergers And Acquisitions”
Anthony King - Widow’s Bay – “Welcome To Widow’s Bay!”
Katie Dippold
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Netflix
- The Beast In Me
Claire Danes as Agatha Wiggs –PARADE’S PREDICTION - Remarkably Bright Creatures
Sally Field as Tova Sullivan
- Beef
Carey Mulligan as Lindsay - Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette - All Her Fault
Sarah Snook as Marissa Irvine
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Netflix
- Bait
Riz Ahmed as Shah Latif - Black Rabbit
Jason Bateman as Vince Friedkin – PARADE’S PREDICTION - Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein - Beef
Oscar Isaac as Josh - The Beast In Me
Matthew Rhys as Nile Jarvis
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
HBO
- The Pitt
Taylor Dearden as Dr. Mel King – PARADE’S PREDICTION - The Pitt
Fiona Dourif as Dr. Cassie McKay - The Diplomat
Allison Janney as President Grace Penn
- The Pitt
Katherine LaNasa as Charge Nurse Dana Evans - The Pitt
Sepideh Moafi as Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi - Paradise
Julianne Nicholson as Sinatra - Pluribus
Karolina Wydra as Zosia
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
HBO
- The Pitt
Patrick Ball as Dr. Frank Langdon - The Morning Show
Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison - The Pitt
Shawn Hatosy as Dr. Jack Abbot – PARADE’S PREDICTION - The Pitt
Gerran Howell as Dr. Dennis Whitaker - Slow Horses
Jack Lowden as River Cartwright - Task
Tom Pelphrey as Robbie Prendergrast - Pluribus
Carlos-Manuel Vesga as Manousos
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Apple TV
- Widow’s Bay
Dale Dickey as Rosemary - Hacks
Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels - Abbott Elementary
Janelle James as Ava Coleman - Widow’s Bay
Kate O’Flynn as Patricia - Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Michelle Pfeiffer as Shyanne Millet – PARADE’S PREDICTION - Hacks
Megan Stalter as Kayla Schaeffer - Shrinking
Jessica Williams as Gaby
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Apple TV
- The Four Seasons
Colman Domingo as Danny - Hacks
Paul W. Downs as Jimmy Lusaque, Jr. - Shrinking
Harrison Ford as Paul - Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Nick Offerman as Jinx Millet
- Widow’s Bay
Stephen Root as Wyck – PARADE’S PREDICTION - Shrinking
Michael Urie as Brian - Abbott Elementary
Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie
Outstanding Variety Series
Paramount+
- The Daily Show
- Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
- The Late Show With Stephen Colbert – PARADE’S PREDICTION
- Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Reality Competition
(Photo by: Euan Cherry/Peacock
- Dancing With The Stars
- RuPaul’s Drag Race
- Survivor
- Top Chef
- The Traitors –PARADE’S PREDICTION
Next, Mariska Hargitay Wins 2 Emmys Ahead of Hosting Gig
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