The 2026 Emmy nominations have been announced, with several surprises and snubs across the 118 categories. Among the biggest surprises is Matthew Rhys, who received nominations for two different roles: as Nile Jarvis in Netflix's 'The Beast in Me' (limited series actor) and as Tom Loftis in Apple's 'Widow's Bay' (comedy actor). He joins other multi-nominees like Colman Domingo, Jason Bateman, and Martin Short.
Stranger Things and Half Man Shut Out
Notably, 'Stranger Things' was completely excluded from major categories, despite its massive popularity and Netflix's expectations. The series only received nominations for technical categories like prosthetic design and stunt coordination. Similarly, 'Half Man' earned only a supporting actor nomination for Richard Gadd, failing to gain traction despite its prestige positioning.
Jon Hamm Snub and Love Story Success
Jon Hamm was overlooked for a best actor nomination in Apple's 'Your Friends and Neighbors', even though the show itself secured a best drama nod. Paul Anthony Kelly was also snubbed for 'Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette', which nonetheless earned multiple nominations, including a well-deserved one for Sarah Pidgeon.
Widow's Bay and Hacks Lead Nominations
'Widow's Bay' emerged as a frontrunner with 18 potential wins, while 'Hacks' set a record with 24 nominations. However, some critics argue that 'Hacks' previously won due to a lack of strong competition, whereas this year 'Widow's Bay' offers a formidable challenge. 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' also secured a best drama nomination, a notable achievement for a lower-stakes Game of Thrones spin-off.
The Emmy awards ceremony is scheduled for September. While aggrieved fans of 'Survivor'—snubbed for sound mixing—may boycott, the event promises excitement with competitive races across categories.
