Archive · 15 Sep 2026
The Pitt Eyes Emmy History as Comedy Race Tightens
The Emmy Awards are prizes for television shows and performers.
The 78th ceremony will take place in Los Angeles and will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay.
The Pitt has the most nominations, with 25.
It could make history by winning the top drama prize in each of its first two seasons.
Hacks and the new show Widow’s Bay are competing closely for best comedy.
Jean Smart could tie the record for the most acting Emmys won by one performer.
Matthew Rhys could become the first actor to win lead acting Emmys in drama, comedy, and limited series categories.
Apple TV currently has more total Emmys than HBO before the main ceremony.
Fewer shows entered the main categories this year than in earlier years.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will be held at Los Angeles’s Peacock Theater, hosted by Mariska Hargitay.
The Pitt leads nominations with 25 and could become the first drama to win its first two seasons since Mad Men.
Widow’s Bay, with 19 nominations, is challenging veteran favourite Hacks, which has 24 nominations, for best comedy.
Jean Smart and Matthew Rhys could reach major Emmy milestones if they win their respective acting awards.
Apple TV leads HBO 19-16 before the main ceremony, while 212 series entered the top program categories.
- Who
- The Pitt, Hacks, Widow’s Bay, competing performers, Mariska Hargitay, Apple TV, HBO, and Netflix are central to the ceremony.
- What
- The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will recognize television programmes across 19 categories.
- When
- The main ceremony is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern, or 5:30 a.m. in India on Tuesday, September 15; red-carpet coverage begins earlier.
- Where
- The ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, with Indian coverage on JioHotstar.
- Why
- The awards honour programmes that aired between June 2025 and May 2026 and recognize achievements in television.
Leading Contenders
Challengers
Best drama
Leading Contenders
The Pitt is favoured to repeat its victory and could win the top drama prize for each of its first two seasons.
Challengers
The article does not identify a specific rival as the leading challenger to The Pitt.
Best comedy
Leading Contenders
Hacks is the veteran Emmy favourite and could secure another major win in what is described as its swan-song season.
Challengers
Widow’s Bay, a freshman horror-comedy, is mounting a closely watched challenge to Hacks.
Limited series
Leading Contenders
HBO Max’s DTF St Louis is considered a slight favourite.
Challengers
Netflix’s Beef, in its second anthology season, is the competing contender.
- Ceremony
- 78th Primetime Emmy Awards
- Venue
- Peacock Theater, downtown Los Angeles
- Host
- Mariska Hargitay
- Top nominee
- The Pitt, with 25 nominations
- Comedy race
- Hacks has 24 nominations and Widow’s Bay has 19
- Limited-series favourite
- DTF St Louis is considered a slight favourite over Beef
- Emmy totals
- Apple TV leads HBO 19-16 before the main ceremony
- Television landscape
- 212 series entered the best drama, comedy, and limited series categories, down 7% from last year and 39% from 2022
