The 2026 Emmy award nominations have been announced.
From "The Pitt" to "Beef," see which TV series from the 2025-2026 season are now be nominees at the 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, September 14.
Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay was third with 19 noms, followed by fellow Apple first-year show Pluribus with 18 and Netflix’s Beef with 16.
The Power of Emmy Campaigns
Thousands of television programs air each year, and networks invest millions in promotional campaigns—under the banner "For Your Consideration"—to capture the attention of voters. However, it is extremely rare for a performer or a series to secure an Emmy nomination after being completely left out of major experts' predictions, as happened with Outlander.
The primary reason industry experts and media commentators cite for the show's Emmy snub is the fierce competition in the Drama categories. These fields are notoriously crowded, making it incredibly difficult for genre and period shows to break through if they are not early frontrunners.
This was exactly the case with Outlander. Even during its eighth and final season, the series and its actors were politely excluded from the major Emmy categories. Television Academy voters rarely award major nominations to such shows, despite expensive promotional campaigns and consistent critical buzz. While fan campaigns and media backing can increase visibility, it is incredibly rare for the Emmy Awards to actually diverge from the early expert consensus.
Journalists and viewers suggest the network’s promotional push to academy members amounted to aggressive lobbying this year, kicking off with a flashy premiere in New York and presentations in different TV studios, that Sam Heughan took the opportunity to promote his Jamie Fraser whisky and his distillery 🥃 It is not exactly the best use of time, is it?
Historically, however, fantasy, romance, and historical period epics face uphill battles against "prestige" contemporary dramas, regardless of how good the acting actually is. Despite this distinct lack of Emmy recognition, the actors cannot exactly complain; Caitríona Balfe earned Golden Globe nominations for her performance, while Sam Heughan has had to settle for exploring alternative horizons like the Saturn and ASTRA Awards.
Also worth noting is the relationship between SH, Starz, and Sony Entertainment regarding his "Sassenach" spirits brand. SH’s products sponsor Starz events, and the network continues to promote the "Jamie Fraser" whisky diligently—even going so far as to include the brand in gift packages sent to critics for their consideration during awards season. The total lack of nominations must have been a rude awakening, given that neither the network nor the sponsor currently has anything significant to celebrate.
STARZ had fondly hoped that supporting the actor’s side projects would generate enough buzz to secure an Emmy nomination. Unfortunately for them, it seems that physical appeal, a legion of followers, and media connections count for remarkably little when quality is lacking. It remains to be seen whether the network and Sony will continue to promote the whisky brand, considering that Starz failed to secure a single nomination and remains firmly outside the top ten television networks.
Perhaps the network should focus its attention on other shows in its lineup, especially now that Outlander finished airing on 15th May 2026, officially concluding the TV series and is unlikely to trouble Emmy voters again in 2027.
Winners of the 2026 Emmy Awards will be feted on Monday, September 14 — shifting from the usual Sunday slot because of an NFL game on NBC. The ceremony at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay.
Posted 7th July 2026
