‘The Pitt’ and ‘Beef’ among standouts for 2026 Emmys
"The Pitt" leads with 25 nominations and Lee Sung Jin, Charles Melton and Youn Yuh-jung from season two of "Beef" were also recognized
From left, Gerran Howell, Amielynn Abellera, Noah Wyle, Sepideh Moafi, and Supriya Ganesh in "The Pitt."
Warrick Page/HBO Max
Words by Daniel Anderson
The 2026 Emmy Awards nominations are here, with The Pitt leading all programs with 25 nominations. The acclaimed medical drama, recognized for its diverse cast and creative team, earned a coveted Outstanding Drama Series nomination. Behind the scenes, executive producer Simran Baidwan is among the show's key creative voices, while the ensemble includes actress Supriya Ganesh.
The Pitt also dominated the acting categories. Noah Wyle earned a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, while Sean Hatosy, Patrick Ball and season two newcomer Sepideh Moafi received Outstanding Supporting Drama Series acting nominations alongside Taylor Dearden, Fiona Dourif, and Katherine LaNasa. Tal Anderson, who is of Korean and Italian American heritage and is an adoptee, received a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.
Several other Outstanding Drama Series nominees also feature notable Asian talent. The Diplomat stars Ali Ahn, while Paradise features actress Sarah Shahi, who is of Iranian descent, and producer Chris Nguyen-Gia. Slow Horses stars Christopher Chung, and Your Friends & Neighbors features Olivia Munn, Hoon Lee, and Eunice Bae.
In the Outstanding Comedy Series race, Hacks earned 24 nominations and features actress Poppy Liu. Other comedy nominees showcasing Asian talent include Margo's Got Money Troubles, starring Thaddea Graham; Shrinking, featuring Lukita Maxwell; and Widow's Bay, which counts Hiro Murai and Claudia Shin among its executive producers.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II earned the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Marvel’s Wonder Man created and produced by Destin Daniel Cretton.
Netflix's Beef season two earned an Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series nomination, with several cast members also recognized. Charles Melton received a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, while Youn Yuh-jung was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Carey Mulligan and Oscar Isaac were recognized in the lead acting categories. Behind the camera, creator Lee Sung Jin serves as an executive producer alongside Melton, Anna Ouyang Moench, Kitao Sakurai, Steven Yeun, and Ali Wong. Yeun also snagged a nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for his performance of Mark Grayson in Invincible.
Riz Ahmed also earned an Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie nomination for Bait.
The Outstanding Television Movie category includes Prime Video's Heads of State, starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas; HBO Max's Miss You, Love You, featuring Suzy Nakamura; and Netflix's People We Meet on Vacation, which features Jameela Jamil and Alice Lee, with a screenplay by Yulin Kuang.
Asian talent is also well represented across the variety categories. Outstanding Variety Series nominees include The Daily Show, featuring correspondent Ronny Chieng; Saturday Night Live, marking Bowen Yang's final season as a cast member; and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, which includes producer Marian Wang.
The Outstanding Reality Competition Program lineup includes Top Chef, hosted by Kristin Kish, alongside Dancing with the Stars, The Traitors, and Survivor.
The 78th Emmy Awards will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay and will air live on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Sept. 14.
Published on July 8, 2026
Words by Daniel Anderson
Daniel Anderson is a disabled Chinese American adoptee based in Seattle. His freelance writing specialties include K-pop, entertainment, and food. He believes that any restaurant can be a buffet, and the key to success is to take a nap each day. Follow his adventures on Instagram @danzstan.