The first Emmy winners of the season will be revealed this weekend, as the Television Academy spreads the Creative Arts ceremony across two nights on September 5 and 6. While these awards typically live in the shadow of the main ceremony, this year’s event will hand out five categories that, in previous years, have been reserved for the big night. In July, the Academy’s Board of Governors controversially voted to move Writing for a Variety Series, Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie, Supporting Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie, Directing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie, and Writing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie to the earlier ceremonies.

Rather than accept that TV ratings will never return to what they once were, TV Academy chair Cris Abrego told Variety that awarding 19 Primetime Emmys, rather than the 26 of 2025 on the main broadcast, will make room for musical performances, comedic bits, and unexpected acceptance speeches. The irony is hard to miss, considering last year’s ceremony famously aimed to cut award recipients off after 45 seconds under the guise of raising money for charity. Host Nate Bargatze proposed a total donation of $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of America, with the amount decreasing by $1,000 each time an acceptance speech ran over its allotted time.

Rather than add the Guest Actress and Actor awards to the Primetime ceremony – a decision that would make the most sense – viewers will lose the chance to see these awards handed out. Actors, writers, and directors will also miss out on valuable recognition, something that has been key for previous recipients such as Jennifer Coolidge, who was awarded the Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie Emmy for The White Lotus Season 1.

Still, moving these categories has done little to diminish the intrigue surrounding this year’s races. Jean Smart is chasing a fifth consecutive win for Hacks, while The Pitt enters the ceremony as the drama to beat, with Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa among its strongest contenders. The show could go further, with Shawn Hatosy, Patrick Ball, and Gerran Howell leading the Supporting Actor field. Meanwhile, Widow’s Bay has established itself as one of the year’s biggest series, picking up 19 nominations and threatening to upset Hacks in several of the biggest comedy races. Add Pluribus‘s strong showing, particularly for Rhea Seehorn and Vince Gilligan, and a competitive limited series field led by Beef and DTF St. Louis, and there is no shortage of fascinating races to unpack.

Here are our Emmy predictions:

Drama

Outstanding Drama Series

• The Diplomat
• The Pitt
• The Gilded Age
• Pluribus
• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
• Slow Horses
• Paradise
• Your Friends & Neighbors

Will Win: The Pitt

Should Win: Pluribus

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age
• Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
• Chase Infiniti – The Testaments
• Keri Russell – The Diplomat
• Zendaya – Euphoria 

Will Win: Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus

Should Win: Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
• Rufus Sewell – The Diplomat
• Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
• Mark Ruffalo – Task
• Noah Wyle – The Pitt

Will Win: Noah Wyle – The Pitt

Should Win: Sterling K. Brown – Paradise

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Taylor Dearden – The Pitt
• Sepideh Moafi – The Pitt
• Fiona Dourif – The Pitt
• Julianne Nicholson – Paradise
• Allison Janney – The Diplomat
• Karolina Wydra – Pluribus
• Katherine La’Nasa – The Pitt

Will Win: Katherine La’Nasa – The Pitt

Should Win: Karolina Wydra – Pluribus

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Patrick Ball – The Pitt
• Jack Lowden – Slow Horses
• Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
• Tom Pelphrey – Task
• Shawn Hatosy – The Pitt
• Carlos-Manuel Vesga – Pluribus
• Gerran Howell – The Pitt

Will Win: Shawn Hatosy – The Pitt

Should Win: Tom Pelphrey – Task

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series

• Brittany Allen – The Pitt
• Tal Anderson – The Pitt
• Tina Ivlev – The Pitt
• Miriam Shor – Pluribus
• Merritt Wever – The Gilded Age
• Shailene Woodley – Paradise

Will Win: Brittany Allen – The Pitt

Should Win: Shailene Woodley – Paradise

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series

• Colman Domingo – Euphoria
• Ernest Harden Jr. – The Pitt
• Jeff Hiller – Pluribus
• Jeff Kober – The Pitt
• Jonathan Pryce – Slow Horses
• Bradley Whitford – The Diplomat

Will Win: Jeff Kober – The Pitt

Should Win: Bradley Whitford – The Diplomat

Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series

• The Gilded Age • My Mind Is Made Up
• Paradise • Exodus
• The Pitt • 12:00 P.M.
• Pluribus • We Is Us
• Slow Horses • Scars
• Task • Out Beyond Ideas Of Wrongdoing And Rightdoing, There Is A River.

Will Win: Pluribus • We Is Us

Should Win: Pluribus • We Is Us

Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series

• The Diplomat • Amagansett
• The Pitt • 1:00 P.M.
• The Pitt • 12:00 P.M.
• Pluribus • We Is Us
• Slow Horses • Scars
• Task • A Still Small Voice

Will Win: Pluribus • We Is Us

Should Win: Pluribus • We Is Us

Comedy

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary
• The Bear
• Nobody Wants This
• Only Murders in the Building
• Hacks
• Shrinking
• Margo’s Got Money Troubles
• Widow’s Bay

Will Win: Widow’s Bay

Should Win: Hacks

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
• Lisa Kudrow – The Comeback
• Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
• Jean Smart – Hacks
• Elle Fanning – Margo’s Got Money Troubles 

Will Win: Jean Smart – Hacks

Should Win: Jean Smart – Hacks

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Wonder Man
• Steve Carell – Rooster
• Jason Segel – Shrinking
• Matthew Rhys – Widow’s Bay
• Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building

Will Win: Matthew Rhys – Widow’s Bay

Should Win: Matthew Rhys – Widow’s Bay

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Dale Dickey – Widow’s Bay
• Michelle Pfeiffer – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
• Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
• Megan Stalter – Hacks
• Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
• Kate O’Flynn – Widow’s Bay
• Jessica Williams – Shrinking 

Will Win: Kate O’Flynn – Widow’s Bay

Should Win: Kate O’Flynn – Widow’s Bay / Hannah Einbinder – Hacks

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Colman Domingo – The Four Seasons
• Stephen Root – Widow’s Bay
• Paul W. Downs – Hacks
• Michael Urie – Shrinking
• Nick Offerman – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
• Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
• Harrison Ford – Shrinking

Will Win: Stephen Root – Widow’s Bay

Should Win: Harrison Ford – Shrinking

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

• Leslie Bibb – Hacks
• Jamie Lee Curtis – The Bear
• Betty Gilpin – Widow’s Bay
• Cherry Jones – Hacks
• Laurie Metcalf – Hacks
• Kaitlin Olson – Hacks
• Lauren Weedman – Hacks

Will Win: Leslie Bibb – Hacks

Should Win: Leslie Bibb – Hacks

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

• Michael J. Fox – Shrinking
• Brett Goldstein – Shrinking
• Hamish Linklater – Widow’s Bay
• Christopher McDonald – Hacks
• Rob Reiner – The Bear
• Connor Storrie – Saturday Night Live

Will Win: Rob Reiner – The Bear

Should Win: Michael J. Fox – Shrinking

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary • Ballgame
• The Bear • Bears
• The Chair Company • Life Goes By Too F**king Fast, It Really Does.
• Hacks • Hacks (Finale)
• The Ms. Pat Show • Give It Arrest
• Widow’s Bay • Welcome To Widow’s Bay!

Will Win: Widow’s Bay • Welcome To Widow’s Bay!

Should Win: Hacks • Hacks (Finale)

Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary • Team Building
• The Chair Company • Life Goes By Too F**king Fast, It Really Does.
• The Comeback • Valerie Does It All
• Hacks • Hacks (Finale)
• Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat • Give It Arrest
• Widow’s Bay • Welcome To Widow’s Bay!

Will Win: Widow’s Bay • Welcome To Widow’s Bay!

Should Win: Hacks • Hacks (Finale)

Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

• All Her Fault
• The Beast in Me
• DTF St. Louis
• Love Story
• Beef

Will Win: Beef

Should Win: Beef

Outstanding TV Movie

• Heads of State
• Miss You, Love You
• People We Meet on Vacation
• Remarkably Bright Creatures
• Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War

Will Win: Remarkably Bright Creatures

Should Win: Remarkably Bright Creatures

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Claire Danes – The Beast in Me
• Carey Mulligan – Beef
• Sally Field – Remarkably Bright Creatures
• Sarah Pidgeon – Love Story
• Sarah Snook – All Her Fault

Will Win: Carey Mulligan – Beef

Should Win: Carey Mulligan – Beef

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Riz Ahmed – Bait
• Oscar Isaac – Beef
• Jason Bateman – Black Rabbit
• Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
• Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me

Will Win: Oscar Isaac – Beef

Should Win: Oscar Isaac – Beef

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Linda Cardellini – DTF St. Louis
• Dakota Fanning – All Her Fault
• Joy Sunday – DTF St. Louis
• Laurie Metcalf – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
• Constance Zimmer – Love Story
• Youn Yuh-jung – Beef

Will Win: Linda Cardellini – DTF St. Louis

Should Win: Linda Cardellini – DTF St. Louis

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Jason Bateman – DTF St. Louis
• Richard Jenkins – DTF St. Louis
• Richard Gadd – Half Man
• Charles Melton – Beef
• David Harbour – DTF St. Louis
• Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning

Will Win: Charles Melton – Beef

Should Win: David Harbour – DTF St. Louis

Outstanding Directing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

• Beef • It Will Stay This Way And You Will Obey
• Beef • Oh, The Comfort, The Inexpressible Comfort
• Black Rabbit • The Black Rabbits
• DTF St. Louis

Will Win: DTF St. Louis

Should Win: DTF St. Louis

Outstanding Directing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie

• All Her Fault • Episode 8
• The Beast in Me • Sick Puppy
• Beef • All the Things We’re Never Going to Have
• Death by Lightning
• DTF St. Louis

Will Win: DTF St. Louis

Should Win: DTF St. Louis

The 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be held September 5 and 6. The Primetime Emmy Awards take place on September 14.