The Biggest Snubs and Surprises From the 2026 Emmy Nominations

The 78th annual Emmys race is officially on. Announced live this morning by The Bear actress Liza Colón-Zayas and Somebody Somewhere’s Jeff Hiller, the 2026 nominees featured many of TV’s usual suspects—the HBO Max comedy Hacks, which wrapped its fifth and final season this spring, after having already scooped up 12 Emmy wins, was nominated for another handful today—as well as a few unexpected picks.

A number of ELLE editor favorites were among those honored by Emmy voters: From this year’s eligibility window (June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026), dramas including The Pitt, Pluribus, Paradise, and The Diplomat all earned nods, and in the comedy realm the excellent Margo’s Got Money Troubles and Widow’s Bay both joined the already well-established Abbott Elementary and The Bear. Still, we’re already fuming about those overlooked gems: No Industry?

In advance of the 2026 ceremony—set to air on NBC and stream on Peacock on September 14—let’s dig into the most dramatic snubs and surprises among this year’s Emmy nominees.

Snub: Industry misses out…again.

“I was hoping and praying this would finally be the year that the Emmys honored the ELLE-beloved HBO finance drama Industry. (As I wrote of last year’s Emmys snubs and surprises, ‘It’s no secret I’m an Industry evangelist.’) Season 4 was particularly zeitgeist-y and attention-grabbing, packed with recognition-worthy performances from stars including Myha’la, Marisa Abela, Ken Leung, and Kit Harington. But it’s as if the show has been erased entirely from Emmy voters’ consciousness again and again. I’m a bit baffled as to why the series keeps flying under the radar given its continually rising popularity, but at least we still have season 5 to anticipate. You already know I’ll be tuned in.”—Lauren Puckett-Pope, senior culture editor

Surprise: Ariana Madix couples up with her first Emmy nomination. 

“Love Island USA’s stylish host Ariana Madix has nabbed her first-ever Emmys nod. The reality star is a newcomer in the Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program race, facing tough competition like RuPaul Charles, Jeff Probst (Survivor), Alan Cumming (The Traitors), and Kristen Kish (Top Chef). Love Island’s burst in popularity over the past few seasons could explain Madix’s inclusion, but it’s hard to say whether the Television Academy will crown fresh blood in a pool full of veterans. For now, she is single and vulnerable.”—Erica Gonzales, deputy editor, digital content

Surprise: Riz Ahmed claims a victory for Bait.

“There are Emmys surprises that land like dead weight, and there are those that allow us TV snobs a satisfying thrill. Riz Ahmed’s nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series falls squarely in the latter category. His performance as aspiring James Bond actor Shah Latif in the Prime Video series Bait might not have been the loudest of spring 2026, but Ahmed—already an Emmy winner for 2017’s The Night Of—is more than deserving of attention. Created by, written by, and starring Ahmed, the meta-satirical Bait is inventive, provocative, and engaging, and that’s exactly the type of work the Television Academy should be elevating into awards contention.”—LPP

Snub: J.A.W. (Jeremy Allen White) is M.I.A.

“Jeremy Allen White, once an Emmys favorite with two wins under his belt for The Bear, was glaringly missing from the nominations list this morning. However, many of his co-stars were there—Ayo Edebiri (Lead Actress in a Comedy), Rob Reiner (Guest Actor in a Comedy), Jamie Lee Curtis (Guest Actress in a Comedy)—and the show itself was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series as it has been in previous years. Why was the leading man left out? Considering The Bear’s release dates, these nods are for season 4 rather than the just-released final season, but it’s still a shock considering how central White’s Carmy is throughout the show. His absence in the comedy actors’ race made room for the stars of new shows like Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Wonder Man), Steve Carell (Rooster), and Matthew Rhys (Widow’s Bay).”—EG

Surprise: Yahya Abdul-Mateen is Wonder Man indeed.

“Seeing Abdul-Mateen’s name among the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nominees this morning was a very welcome sight. Although the aforementioned Jeremy Allen White was ultimately knocked out of the same race, perhaps that shouldn’t come as a shock—it’s already the subject of debate ad nauseam whether The Bear should even be in comedy contention at all. By comparison, the Disney+ Marvel series Wonder Man makes sense in the category. Abdul-Mateen’s Emmys-worthy performance as the titular actor-turned-superhero helps make the case for the kind of Marvel-mania renaissance comic-book fans are hoping for.”—LPP

Surprise: Chase Infiniti didn’t get an Oscars nod, but the Emmys won’t neglect her.

“One Battle After Another actress Chase Infiniti didn’t clinch a slot in 2026’s Academy Awards race, even as OBAA ultimately won the battle for Best Picture. The Emmys, it seems, were keen not to make the same mistake: Infiniti grabbed an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her role in The Handmaid’s Tale spinoff The Testaments.”—LPP

Surprise: Connor Storrie scores a non-Heated Rivalry nomination.

“Heated Rivalry’s first season was not eligible for the Primetime Emmys because it was created and filmed in Canada with no American co-producers. However, one of the stars was still able to squeeze in. Connor Storrie was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, where he put his clown training (yes, really) on full display. He’s up against some heavy hitters in the category, though, like Michael J. Fox (Shrinking) and the late Rob Reiner (The Bear). Fingers crossed he brings Hudson Williams as his date.”—EG

Snub: Netflix’s Stranger Things and the Taylor Sheridan Cinematic Universe couldn’t win over voters.

“The Emmys are not, ultimately, a popularity contest, as continues to be proven by notable nomination omissions: For multiple years running, Taylor Sheridan’s oeuvre has largely escaped Emmys applause, and that’s now extended to 2026’s The Madison, which some analysts predicted might score lead actress Michelle Pfeiffer a nod. (Pfeiffer did earn recognition this year for a different show, Margo’s Got Money Troubles.) Similarly, the final season of Netflix’s smash-hit Stranger Things—once a not-insignificant Emmys contender—did not secure any nominations in major above-the-line categories this time around.”—LPP

Surprise: Taylor Swift gets her second Emmy nod days after her wedding.

“This one probably wasn’t on the registry, but it sure makes a sweet wedding gift: Taylor Swift earned her second-ever Emmy nomination for producing and performing in her Eras Tour concert special on Disney+. Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show earned five nods, including an Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) nomination for Swift and her fellow producers. (Her first nomination and win came in 2015 for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media – Original Interactive Program for AMEX Unstaged: Taylor Swift Experience.)”—EG