The 2026 Emmy nominations were released today, July 8, 2026, for all 38 categories. The extensive list has something for everyone, including several categories for soundtrack music and animation.
Keep reading to read the full list of nominations.
2026 Emmy Nominations: Animation and Music Fans Have Plenty to Cheer About
Since it’s the middle of summer, it’s time once again to think about awards season, especially if you love watching TV. That’s because the Academy for Television Arts and Sciences has released its 2026 Emmy nominations list.
That’s right. It’s Emmy time once again. Consequently, the headline-grabbing races are already capturing the attention of every entertainment news outlet. However, what about the smaller races? For instance, what about the animation and music categories? Well then, I got you covered.
The 2026 Emmy Awards Nominations in Animation
Animation is one of television’s more flexible storytelling playgrounds, whether it’s a weekly comfort watch, surreal late-night fever dream, galaxy-hopping anthology, or a sharp-edged satire. So, it makes sense to acknowledge the creativity and artistry that go into it.
However, there are only four animation categories among the 2026 Emmy nominations, with only one directly dedicated to the medium. As a result, we have children’s shows competing against mature ones. Either way, they’ll still be a wonderful achievement for whoever wins them.
That said, if you want to know the winners, you must wait for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, which will be held on September 5 and September 6, 2026.
Outstanding Animated Program
The Outstanding Animated Program Category is, of course, the key category here. South Park is the frontrunner, but any of these series could take it.
- Bob’s Burgers – “Grand Pre Pre Pre Opening” (FOX / 20th Television Animation)
- Rick and Morty – “There’s Something About Morty” (Adult Swim / Rick and Morty LLC, Williams Street)
- The Simpsons – “Homer? A Cracker Bro?” (FOX / Gracie Films, 20th Television Animation)
- Smiling Friends – “Le Voyage Incroyable de Monsieur Grenouille” (Adult Swim / Williams Street)
- South Park – “Sermon on the Mount” (Comedy Central)
- Star Wars: Visions – “Black” (Disney+ / Lucasfilm, David Production)
2026 Emmy Nominations for Voice Actor
South Park is also in the lead in the voice-acting race thanks to series creator Trey Parker’s nomination. The award would look rather good alongside his Television Academy Hall of Fame induction, which he’ll receive at the Televerse 26 festival on August 13, alongside his fellow creator Matt Stone.
- Pamela Adlon – Bobby Hill, King of the Hill
- Julie Andrews – Lady Whistledown, Bridgerton
- Hank Azaria – Gary Chalmers, The Simpsons
- Trey Parker – Satan, South Park
- Matt Vogel – Kermit the Frog, The Muppet Show
- Steven Yeun – Mark Grayson/Invincible, Invincible
Outstanding Visual Effects – Movie or Series
This animation category basically awards excellence in visual FX showcased in live-action TV movies or across an entire series or season.
Visual Effects – Single Episode
This final animation category exists specifically to find the very best FX moment in television.
- Gen V – “New Year, New U” (Prime Video)
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – “In the Name of the Mother” (HBO Max)
- Paradise – “Exodus” (Hulu)
- Spider-Noir – “Nightmare on a Gurney” (MGM+/Prime Video)
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – “Costa da Morte” (AMC)
The 2026 Emmy Nominations in Soundtrack Music
The Creative Arts Emmys also include the seven music soundtrack categories. As a result, they often get overlooked by those who only follow the mainstream primetime awards, which is unfortunate. Music’s basically Hollywood’s emotional heart. So, it feels wrong to keep it out of the discussions.
With that said, the category to watch is Original Song since South Park’s “Christian Woman” is the frontrunner there.
Original Dramatic Score – Series
In short, this category honors excellence in episodic scoring in a TV series.
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms – In the Name of the Mother – Dan Romer
- Palm Royale – Maxine Drinks Martinis Now – Jeff Toyne
- Pluribus – We Is Us – Dave Porter
- Slow Horses – Missiles – Daniel Pemberton & Toydrum
- Spider-Noir – Step Into My Office – Kris Bowers & Michael Dean Parsons
- Widow’s Bay – Our History – David Fleming
Original Dramatic Score – Limited Series, Movie or Special
This special category generally highlights the best one-shot television musical performance.
- All Her Fault – Episode 7 – Jeff Beal
- The Beast in Me – The Beast and Me – Sean Callery & Sara Barone
- Black Rabbit – Isle of Joy – Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans
- In the Blink of an Eye – Thomas Newman
- Washington Black – If You See My Mama, Whisper Her This… – Cameron Moody
Main Title Music 2026 Emmy Nominations
This one obviously rewards the best opening themes on TV.
- All Her Fault – Jeff Beal
- The Beast in Me – Sean Callery
- The ‘Burbs – Michael Abels
- Murderbot – Amanda Jones
- Pluribus – Dave Porter
Original Dramatic Score – Documentary
This category basically celebrates musical scores that brought real-world stories to life without overpowering them.
- High Horse: The Black Cowboy – F*ck Westerns – Raphael Saadiq
- John Candy: I Like Me – Tyler Strickland
- Kingdom – Segun Akinola
- Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! – Jeff Morrow
- Ocean With David Attenborough – Steven Price
- Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age – The Big Freeze – Kara Talve, Anže Rozman & Hans Zimmer
Original Song 2026 Emmy Nominations
These are, in fact, the best songs on TV:
- The Boys – The Frenchman, The Female, And The Man Called Mother’s Milk – “Raise Him Up” – Christopher Lennertz & Daveed Diggs
- Hacks – EGOT – “Mis Figuritas” – Carlos Rafael Rivera & David Stal
- The Pitt – 12:00 P.M. – “Need Someone” – Gavin Brivik & Andrew Bird
- South Park – The Crap Out – “Christian Woman” – Trey Parker
- Spider-Noir – A Mistake I’ll Never Make Again – “The Devil You Know” – Warren Oak Felder, Sebastian Kole & Daniel Pemberton
- Wednesday – Woe Me The Money – “The Dead Dance” – Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt & Henry Walter Russell
Music Supervision
- The Boys – Blood and Bone – Michelle Johnson & Yvette Metoyer
- Hacks – Hacks (Finale) – Matt Biffa
- Nobody Wants This – When Noah Met Joanne – Manish Raval, Tom Wolfe & Jonathan Leahy
- Pluribus – We Is Us – Thomas Golubić
- Stranger Things – Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up – Nora Felder
- Widow’s Bay – Beach Reads – Toko Nagata
Music Director
- The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny – Miguel Gandelman
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – Series Finale – Louis Cato
- The Oscars – Michael Bearden
- Saturday Night Live – Host: Jack Black – Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis, Eli Brueggemann & Maddie Rice
- Wicked: One Wonderful Night – Stephen Oremus
The Other 2026 Emmy Nominations
As I have said, the Television Academy announced all of its 2026 Emmy nominations today. That also includes the main line categories, which will be presented at the main Primetime Emmy ceremony on September 14 and broadcast on NBC.
Outstanding Drama Series
- The Diplomat (Netflix)
- The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)
- Paradise (Hulu)
- The Pitt (HBO Max)
- Pluribus (Apple TV+)
- Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
- Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple TV+)
TV Comedy Series 2026 Emmy Nominations
- Abbott Elementary (ABC)
- The Bear (FX)
- Hacks (HBO Max)
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV+)
- Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
- Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
- Shrinking (Apple TV+)
- Widow’s Bay (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
- All Her Fault (Peacock)
- The Beast in Me (Netflix)
- Beef (Netflix)
- DTF St. Louis (HBO Max)
- Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette (Hulu)
Television Movie 2026 Emmy Nominations
- Heads of State (Prime Video)
- Miss You, Love You (HBO Max)
- People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix)
- Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix)
- Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War (Prime Video)
Outstanding Reality TV
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
- Survivor (CBS)
- Top Chef (Bravo)
- The Traitors (Peacock)
2026 Emmy Nominations for Variety Series
- The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max)
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
- Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Live Variety Special
- The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny (NBC)
- The 83rd Annual Golden Globes (CBS)
- The 68th Annual Grammy Awards (CBS)
- The Oscars (ABC)
- The 78th Annual Tony Awards (CBS)
Pre-recorded Variety Special
- Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable… (Netflix)
- The Muppet Show (Disney+)
- Nikki Glaser: Good Girl (Hulu)
- Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | Final Show (Disney+)
- Wicked: One Wonderful Night (NBC)
2026 Emmy Nominations for Lead Actress – Drama Series
- Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age
- Chase Infiniti – The Testaments
- Keri Russell – The Diplomat
- Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus
- Zendaya – Euphoria
Lead Actor – Drama Series
- Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
- Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
- Mark Ruffalo – Task
- Rufus Sewell – The Diplomat
- Noah Wyle – The Pitt
Lead Actress – Comedy Series
- Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
- Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
- Elle Fanning – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Lisa Kudrow – The Comeback
- Jean Smart – Hacks
2026 Emmy Nominations for Lead Actor – Comedy Series
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Wonder Man
- Steve Carell – Rooster
- Matthew Rhys – Widow’s Bay
- Jason Segel – Shrinking
- Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
Lead Actress – Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Claire Danes – The Beast in Me
- Sally Field – Remarkably Bright Creatures
- Carey Mulligan – Beef
- Sarah Pidgeon – Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
- Sarah Snook – All Her Fault
Lead Actor – Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Riz Ahmed – Bait
- Jason Bateman – Black Rabbit
- Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
- Oscar Isaac – Beef
- Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me
Supporting Actress – Drama Series 2026 Emmy Nominations
This category is basically The Pitt territory. Just look at all those nominees.
- Taylor Dearden – The Pitt
- Fiona Dourif – The Pitt
- Allison Janney – The Diplomat
- Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt
- Sepideh Moafi – The Pitt
- Julianne Nicholson – Paradise
- Karolina Wydra – Pluribus
Supporting Actor – Drama Series
The Pitt also dominated this one, too.
- Patrick Ball – The Pitt
- Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
- Shawn Hatosy – The Pitt
- Gerran Howell – The Pitt
- Jack Lowden – Slow Horses
- Tom Pelphrey – Task
- Carlos-Manuel Vesga – Pluribus
Supporting Actress – Comedy Series
- Dale Dickey – Widow’s Bay
- Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
- Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
- Kate O’Flynn – Widow’s Bay
- Michelle Pfeiffer – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Megan Stalter – Hacks
- Jessica Williams – Shrinking
2026 Emmy Nominations for Supporting Actor – Comedy Series
- Colman Domingo – The Four Seasons
- Paul W. Downs – Hacks
- Harrison Ford – Shrinking
- Nick Offerman – Margo’s Got Money Troubles
- Stephen Root – Widow’s Bay
- Michael Urie – Shrinking
- Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
Supporting Actress – Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Linda Cardellini – DTF St. Louis
- Dakota Fanning – All Her Fault
- Laurie Metcalf – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
- Joy Sunday – DTF St. Louis
- Youn Yuh-jung – Beef
- Constance Zimmer – Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette
Supporting Actor – Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
- Jason Bateman – DTF St. Louis
- Richard Gadd – Half Man
- David Harbour – DTF St. Louis
- Richard Jenkins – DTF St. Louis
- Charles Melton – Beef
- Nick Offerman – Death By Lightning
2026 Emmy Nominations for Guest Actress – 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
2026 Emmy Nominations for Guest Actor – 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
Guest Actress – Comedy Series 2026 Emmy Nominations
- 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
Guest Actor – 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
2026 Emmy Nominations for Director – Drama Series
- The Gilded Age – Salli Richardson Whitfield (“My Mind is Made Up“)
- Paradise – Hanelle M. Culpepper (“Exodus“)
- The Pitt – Noah Wyle (“12 P.M.“)
- Pluribus – Vince Gilligan (“We Is Us“)
- Slow Horses – Saul Metzstein (“Scars“)
- Task – Salli Richardson Whitfield (“Out Beyond Ideas of Wrongdoing and Rightdowing, There is a River“)
Director – Comedy Series 2026 Emmy Nominations
- Abbott Elementary – Randall Einhorn (“Ballgame“)
- The Bear – Christopher Storer (“Bears“)
- The Chair Company – Andrew DeYoung (“Life Goes By Too F***ing Fast, It Really Does.“)
- Hacks – Lucia Aniello (“Hacks“)
- The Ms. Pat Show – Mary Lou Belli (“Give It Arrest“)
- Widow’s Bay – Hiro Murai (“Welcome To Widow’s Bay!”)
Director – Limited, Anthology Series or Movie
- Beef – Jack Schreier (“It Will Stay This Way and You Will Obey“)
- Beef – Lee Sung Jin (“Oh, the Comfort, the Inexpressible Comfort“)
- Black Rabbit – Jason Bateman (“The Black Rabbits“)
- DTF St. Louis – Steven Conrad
2026 Emmy Nominations for Drama Series Writing
- The Diplomat – Peter Ackerman and Debora Cahn (“Amagansett“)
- The Pitt – Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman and R. Scott Gemmill (“1 P.M.“)
- The Pitt – Valerie Chu (“12 P.M.“)
- Pluribus – Vince Gilligan (“We Is Us“)
- Slow Horses – Will Smith (“Scars“)
- Task – Brad Ingelsby (“A Still Small Voice“)
Comedy Series Writing
- Abbott Elementary – Quinta Brunson (“Team Building“)
- The Chair Company – Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin (“Life Goes By Too F***ing Fast, It Really Does.”)
- The Comeback – Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow (“Valerie Does It All“)
- Hacks – Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky (“Hacks“)
- Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat – Anthony King (“Mergers and Acquisitions“)
- Widow’s Bay – Katie Dippold (“Welcome To Widow’s Bay!”)
TV Movie or Limited Series Writing
- All Her Fault – Megan Gallagher (“Episode 8″)
- The Beast in Me – Gabe Rotter and Daniel Pearle (“Sick Puppy“)
- Beef – Lee Sung Jin (“All the Things We’re Never Going to Have“)
- Death By Lightning – Mike Makowsky
- DTF St. Louis – Steven Conrad
2026 Emmy Nominations for Variety Series Writing
- Jimmy Kimmel Live!
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Final Thoughts On These 2026 Emmy Nominations
Personally, I want South Park to win it all just for the memes, but all of these nominees deserve to be on this list. It’s too bad that the TV Academy treats creative arts such as animation and music as side attractions unworthy of the main event. Still, it feels good that they got a night of their own to shine without the distractions of the main crowd.
However, that’s just my take. What’s yours?
Post your thoughts in the forums or the comments below.
