2026 Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Limited Series, Actor and Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Best Limited Series

Will Win - DTF St. Louis

Could Win - Beef

Should Win - DTF St. Louis

Commentary - Beef is still going to do very well, and could still pull it off. But after winning writing, directing, both supporting actor and actress, editing and cinematography, I have a feeling that DTF St. Louis is prime for an upset.

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Will Win - Oscar Isaac "Beef"

Could Win - Matthew Rhys "The Beast in Me"

Should Win - Oscar Issac "Beef"

Commentary - Without DTF competition Isaac should easily win this, although the Matthew Rhys love could land a double Emmy night for him.

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Will Win - Carey Mulligan "Beef"

Could Win - Sarah Snook "All Her Fault" or Sally Field "Remarkably Bright Creatures"

Should Win - Carey Mulligan "Beef"

Commentary - Snook had early wins and Field is a legend, but I expect Mulligan to pull this one out. 

18th Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA) Dorian Television Award Winners

BEST TV DRAMA

Heated Rivalry (HBO Max)  

BEST TV COMEDY

Hacks (HBO Max)  

BEST LGBTQ TV SHOW

Heated Rivalry (HBO Max)

BEST TV MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES

Half Man (HBO Max)  

BEST NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE TV SHOW

Squid Game (Netflix)  

BEST LGBTQ NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE TV SHOW

The Boyfriend (Netflix)  

BEST WRITTEN TV SHOW

Hacks (HBO Max)  

BEST TV PERFORMANCE — DRAMA

Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus (Apple TV)  

BEST SUPPORTING TV PERFORMANCE — DRAMA

François Arnaud, Heated Rivalry (HBO Max)  

BEST TV PERFORMANCE — COMEDY

Jean Smart, Hacks (HBO Max)  

BEST SUPPORTING TV PERFORMANCE — COMEDY

Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)  

BEST TV MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

Bad Bunny, The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show  

BEST UNSUNG TV SHOW

Boots (Netflix) 

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS SHOW

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS) 

BEST TV DOCUMENTARY OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV)  

BEST LGBTQ TV DOCUMENTARY OR DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery (Hulu)  

BEST GENRE TV SHOW

Widow’s Bay (Apple TV)  

BEST REALITY SHOW

The Traitors (Peacock)  

BEST ANIMATED SHOW

South Park (Paramount+)  

MOST VISUALLY STRIKING TV SHOW

(TIE) Alien: Earth (FX/Hulu) AND Pluribus (Apple TV) (

CAMPIEST TV SHOW

The Hunting Wives (Netflix)  

WILDE WIT AWARD

Hannah Einbinder 

GALECA TV ICON AWARD

Lisa Kudrow  

GALECA LGBTQIA+ TV TRAILBLAZER

Jacob Tierney 

2026 Television Critics Association (TCA) Award Winners

Program of the Year

Heated Rivalry, Crave/HBOMax

Outstanding Achievement in Comedy

Widow's Bay, AppleTV

Outstanding Achievement in Drama

The Pitt, HBO Max

Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries or Specials

Death by Lightning, Netflix

Individual Achievement in Drama

Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus, Apple TV

Individual Achievement in Comedy

Kate O'Flynn, Widow's Bay, Apple TV

Outstanding Achievement in News and Information

The American Revolution, PBS

Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS

Outstanding Achievement in Reality

The Traitors, Peacock

Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Disney+

Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming

Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical, Apple TV

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

Long Story Short, Netflix

Outstanding International Series

Squid Game, Netflix

Outstanding New Program

Widow's Bay, AppleTV

Heritage Award

In Living Color

Career Achievement

Stephen Colbert

2026 Primetime Creative Arts Emmys: Night Two

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series - Ernest Harding Jr. "The Pitt"

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series - Shailene Woodley "Paradise"

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series - Rob Reiner "The Bear"

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series - Betty Gilpin "Widow's Bay"

Best Movie - Remarkably Bright Creatures

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie - David Harbour "DTF St. Louis"

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie - Linda Cardellini "DTF St. Louis"

Best Directing in a Limited Series or Movie - DTF St. Louis

Best Writing in a Limited Series or Movie - DTF St. Louis

Best Animated Program - South Park

Best Character Voice-Over Performance - Julie Andrews "Bridgerton"

Best Casting for a Comedy Series - Widow's Bay

Best Casting for a Drama Series - The Pitt

Best Casting for a Limited Series or Movie - Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette

Best Choreography for a Scripted Series - Brooke Lipton "Palm Royale"

Best Cinematography for a Series (Half-Hour) - Widow's Bay

Best Cinematography for a Series (One Hour) - Spider-Noir

Best Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie - DTF St. Louis

Best Contemporary Costumes for a Series - Margo's Got Money Troubles

Best Contemporary Costumes for a Limited Series or Movie - Beef

Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes - Fallout

Best Period Costumes - Palm Royale

Best Picture Editing for a Drama Series - Pluribus

Best Picture Editing for a Single-Camera Comedy Series - Hacks

Best Picture Editing for a Multi-Camera Comedy Series - Leanne

Best Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie - DTF St. Louis

Best Contemporary Hairstyling - Margo's Got Money Troubles

Best Period/Sci-Fi Hairstyling - Bridgerton

Best Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) - Margo's Got Money Troubles

Best Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) - Palm Royale

Best Prosthetic Makeup - The Pitt

Best Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) - Widow's Bay

Best Music Composition for a Limited Series or Movie (Original Dramatic Score) - The Beast in Me

Best Music Supervision - Widow's Bay

Best Original Music and Lyrics - The Pitt - Need Someone

Best Main Title Theme Music - Pluribus

Best Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) - Widow's Bay

Best Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program - Pluribus

Best Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program - Fallout

Best Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half Hour) - Widow's Bay

Best Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) - Spider-Noir

Best Sound Editing for a Limited Series or Movie - Beef

Best Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half Hour) - Widow's Bay

Best Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) - Pluribus

Best Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie - Beef

Best Special Visual Effects for a Series or Movie - Stranger Things

Best Special Visual Effects for a Single Episode - Spider-Noir

Best Stunt Coordination for Drama Programming - The Boys

Best Stunt Coordination for Comedy Programming - Spider-Noir

Best Stunt Performance - A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Best Title Design - Spider-Noir

2026 Primetime Creative Arts Emmys: Night One

Best Variety Special (Live) - The Apple Music Super Bowl XL Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny

Best Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) - The Muppet Show

Best Structured Reality Series - Antiques Roadshow

Best Unstructured Reality Series - Love on the Spectrum

Best Host for a Reality Competition Program - Alan Cumming "The Traitors"

Best Directing for a Variety Series - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Best Directing for a Variety Special - The Apple Music Super Bowl XL Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny

Best Writing for a Variety Series - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Best Writing for a Variety Special - The Muppet Show

Best Directing for a Reality Program - The Traitors

Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series - Mr. Scorsese

Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special - My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay

Best Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special - Tucci in Italy

Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking - The Librarians

Best Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program - My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay

Best Writing for a Nonfiction Program - The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse"

Best Game Show - Jeopardy!

Best Host for a Game Show - Jimmy Kimmel "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"

Best Narrator - Octavia Spencer "Lost Women of Alaska"

Best Emerging Media Program - Uncanny Alley: A New Day

Best Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series - Inside The Pitt

Best Short Form Comedy, Drama, or Variety Series - Colbert Before Air

Best Performer for a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series - Desi Lydic "The Daily Show: Desi Lydic Foxsplains" 

Best Casting for a Reality Program - Love on the Spectrum

Best Choreography for a Variety or Reality Program - The Apple Music Super Bowl XL Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny

Best Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program - Ocean with David Attenborough

Best Cinematography for Reality Program - The Traitors

Best Commercial - I'm Not Remarkable - Apple

Best Picture Editing for Variety Programming - The Muppet Show

Best Picture Editing for Variety Programming (Segment) - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Best Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program - Sean Combs: The Reckoning

Best Picture Editing for a Structured Reality Program - The Traitors

Best Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program - Love on the Spectrum

Best Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program - RuPaul's Drag Race

Best Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Series - The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Best Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Special - The Apple Music Super Bowl XL Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny

Best Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program - Saturday Night Live

Best Music Composition for a Documentary/Nonfiction or Reality Program (Original Dramatic Score) - John Candy: I Like Me

Best Music Direction - The Apple Music Super Bowl XL Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny

Best Production Design for a Variety or Reality Series - The Traitors

Best Production Design for a Variety Special - The Muppet Show

Best Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program - Ocean with David Attenborough

Best Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special - The Apple Music Super Bowl XL Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny

Best Sound Mixing for a Reality Program - Welcome to Wrexham

Best Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program - Billy Joel: And So it Goes

Best Technical and Camerawork for a Series - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Best Technical and Camerawork for a Special - The Apple Music Super Bowl XL Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny

2026 Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Television Movie, Guest Actor and Guest Actress in a Drama and Comedy Series

Best Television Movie

Will Win - Remarkably Bright Creatures

Could Win - Miss You, Love You

Should Win - Remarkably Bright Creatures

Commentary - In a weak category, the decent Remarkably Bright Creatures, which has the star power of Sally Field should triumph. 

Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Will Win - Colman Domingo "Euphoria"

Could Win - Ernest Harden Jr. "The Pitt", Jeff Kober "The Pitt", or Jeff Hiller "Pluribus"

Should Win - Ernest Harden Jr. "The Pitt"

Commentary - Colman Domingo is so well-liked, that I think he overcomes the Emmy crash out of Euphoria. However, The Pitt is so strong, so Kober or Harden could in, and do not discount Jeff Hiller. Recent winners often repeat. 

Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Will Win - Shailene Woodley "Paradise"

Could Win - Brittany Allen "The Pitt" or Tal Anderson "The Pitt"

Should Win - Shailene Woodley "Paradise"

Commentary - Woodley's performance really is a standout amongst the bunch, but the power of The Pitt could propel Allen (who has a great story) or Anderson to big Emmy wins.

Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Will Win - Michael J. Fox "Shrinking"

Could Win - Rob Reiner "The Bear", Hamish Linklater "Widow's Bay"

Should Win - Michael J. Fox "Shrinking"

Commentary - Michael J. Fox is an Emmy winning legend in a great role. But do not discount the posthumous power of Rob Reiner or the great turn from Hamish Linklater in a hot new series. 

Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Will Win - Betty Gilpin "Widow's Bay"

Could Win - Kaitlin Olson "Hacks" or Cherry Jones "Hacks"

Should Win - Kaitlin Olson "Hacks"

Commentary - There are just so many Hacks stars, that even standouts like Olson and Jones might be pulled back in favor of Betty Gilpin in Widow's Bay. 

2026 Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Directing, and Writing in a Limited Series or Movie

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series/Movie

Will Win - David Harbour "DTF St. Louis"

Could Win - Charles Melton "Beef"

Should Win - David Harbour "DTF St. Louis"

Commentary - In terms of performance, Harbour's fantastic turn is the easy favorite. But watch out for a Beef sweep, which happens often, and Charles Melton coming along for the ride.

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series/Movie

Will Win - Linda Cardellini "DTF St. Louis"

Could Win - Youn Yuh-jung "Beef" 

Should Win - Linda Cardellini "DTF St. Louis"

Commentary - A similar race to supporting actor, where Cardellini's bold performance stands out, but Oscar-winner YJ (who I also love, so I'm good either way) could win on the strength of Beef and these voters love Oscar winners.

Best Directing in a Limited Series/TV Movie

Will Win - DTF St. Louis

Could Win - Beef

Should Win - DTF St. Louis

Commentary - The explosiveness of DTF St. Louis feels like a perfect fit for the directors here. Also Beef could split votes with two submissions. 

Best Writing in a Limited Series/TV Movie

Will Win - Beef

Could Win - DTF St. Louis

Should Win - DTF St. Louis

Commentary - I think that DTF St. Louis is about to make a huge play for the top award. Beef still has the pedigree and the nominatins lead, and I think the writers will reward it no matter what happens in Limited Series. 

2026 Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Variety Series and Variety Special

Best Variety Series

Will Win - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Could Win - Last Week Tonight in John Oliver or The Daily Show

Should Win - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Commentary - One last win for the great Stephen Colbert.

Best Variety Special (Live)

Will Win - The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny

Could Win - The Oscars and The Tony Awards

Should Win - The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny 

Commentary - Honestly, it was great, and I love to see people get crazy again over nothing. 

Best Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)

Will Win - The Muppet Show

Could Win - Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show

Should Win - The Muppet Show

Commentary - Also watch out for Wicked!

2026 Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Directing and Writing in a Variety Series and Variety Special

Best Directing in a Variety Series

Will Win - Saturday Night Live

Could Win - Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Should Win - Saturday Night Live

Commentary - SNL is the tried and true, but the power of Colbert's exit may win out.

Best Writing in a Variety Series

Will Win - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Could Win - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Should Win - The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Commentary - Last Week Tonight wins this on repeat. It would be nice to see voters give Colbert one last reward in this category.

Best Directing in a Variety Special

Will Win - The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny

Could Win - Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show

Should Win - 78th Annual Tony Awards

Commentary - Hamish vs. Glenn, the titans of live TV. I am going with the live Halftime Show in a tough race. 

Best Writing in a Variety Special

Will Win - The Muppet Show

Could Win - Nikki Glaser: Good Girl

Should Win - The Muppet Show

Commentary - A creative show that feels like a perfect fit for the voters in this category. 

2026 Emmy Winner Predictions: Best Competition Program, Reality Host, Structured and Unstructured Reality Series

Best Competition Program

Will Win - The Traitors

Could Win - RuPaul's Drag Race or Survivor

Should Win - The Traitors

Commentary - These voters love repeat winners, and The Traitors is still a good show. But RuPaul could come back and win, and Survivor is on a bit of an Emmy revival lately. 

Best Reality Host

Will Win - Alan Cumming "The Traitors"

Could Win - Jeff Probst "Survivor" or RuPaul Charles "RuPaul's Drag Race"

Should Win - Kristen Kish "Top Chef"

Commentary - Expect Cumming to repeat here, but I would love to see a Kish win.

Best Structured Reality Series

Will Win - Antiques Roadshow

Could Win - Shark Tank or Queer Eye

Should Win - Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives

Commentary - I don't know what is going on with this category. I wasn't sure, so I started looking at other predictions/odds. Its a great method to get the juices flowing, and I particularly love good commentary. I have no idea why, but Antiques Roadshow is surging in the odds and predictions. I don't watch the show, so maybe it had a particularly enticing season. But you know what, I am going with the pack on this one. PS, my secret love is DDD, and I wish its turn would finally come. BTW, if it is a fluke with the Roadshow, look to previous winners Queer Eye or Shark Tank. 

Best Unstructured Reality Series

Will Win - Love on the Spectrum

Could Win - Welcome to Wrexham

Should Win - Welcome to Wrexham

Commentary - This one feels better. Expect either one of two past Emmy favorites to win here. My bet is on Love on the Spectrum.