2026 Emmy Nominations: The Biggest Snubs and Surprises That Have Fans Talking

The nominations for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are officially here, and as expected, they have already sparked plenty of debate. While several television favorites walked away with a huge number of nominations, a handful of surprising omissions have fans questioning the Television Academy’s choices.

From breakout newcomers to shocking snubs, here are the biggest talking points from this year’s Emmy nominations.

One of the morning’s biggest surprises was the dominance of The Pitt, which led all programs with 25 nominations. Hackscontinued its awards-season success with a record-setting 24 nominations for a comedy series, while Apple TV+’s Widow’s Bay emerged as another major contender with 19 nominations.

Several first-time nominees also stole the spotlight. Chase Infiniti earned a breakthrough nomination for The Testaments, while Meg Stalter received recognition for her work on Hacks. The return of Dancing With the Stars to the Outstanding Reality Competition Program category marked another unexpected moment, ending a ten-year absence from the category.

Of course, no Emmy nominations would be complete without a few head-scratching omissions.

Among the biggest snubs was Jeremy Allen White, who failed to receive a nomination for The Bear after winning in previous years. His co-star Ebon Moss-Bachrach was also left out, making the critically acclaimed comedy one of the morning’s biggest surprises.

Fans were equally surprised to see Sydney Sweeney miss out on a nomination for Euphoria. While the HBO drama still received recognition in several categories, many expected Sweeney to return to the ballot following another emotional performance as Cassie Howard.

Another notable omission came in the form of Jon Hamm, whose acclaimed performance in Your Friends & Neighborswas overlooked despite the series earning recognition elsewhere. Meanwhile, Netflix’s Stranger Things was largely shut out of the major races, disappointing many fans who expected the beloved series to receive a stronger farewell from Emmy voters.

Not every surprise involved a snub. Veteran actor Matthew Rhys enjoyed one of the biggest mornings of his career by earning two lead acting nominations in different categories, a rare accomplishment that quickly became one of the day’s most talked-about achievements.

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air live on September 14 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Mariska Hargitay set to host the ceremony. Until then, fans will undoubtedly continue debating who deserved a nomination, who was unfairly left off the ballot, and which shows have the momentum to take home television’s biggest honors this fall.