The stage is set for the 78th annual Emmy Awards, television’s most prestigious honor in the United States, and two standout series have surged to the top of this year’s nominee lineup. HBO Max’s gripping new medical drama *The Pitt* claims the highest number of nominations with 25 total nods, while the farewell season of HBO Max’s beloved comedy *Hacks* trails closely behind with 24 nominations, cementing both shows as the frontrunners heading into the September awards ceremony.
A notable contingent of British acting talent has earned recognition across multiple categories this year. Leading the pack is Welsh star Matthew Rhys, who made history as the only nominee to land two lead acting nods: one for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy for Apple TV+’s *Widow’s Bay*, and a second for Best Lead Actor in a Limited Series for Netflix’s *The Beast In Me*. Rhys is joined by fellow British nominees including Riz Ahmed for *Bait*, Carey Mulligan for *Beef*, Gary Oldman for *Slow Horses*, and Rufus Sewell for *The Diplomat*, all of whom earned nods in major acting categories.
However, this year’s nomination round has also brought several high-profile snubs that have already sparked industry conversation. Two of Netflix’s biggest hit series, *Stranger Things* and *Euphoria*, both wrapping their final seasons, failed to secure a spot in the coveted Best Drama Series shortlist. *Stranger Things* walked away with seven total nominations, all of which are in technical categories such as cinematography and editing, while *Euphoria* lead Zendaya is the only cast member to earn a main acting nomination, picking up a nod for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Another surprise omission came for *The Bear*, the critically acclaimed FX on Hulu comedy that just concluded its run. While the series earned a spot on the Best Comedy Series shortlist, its lead star Jeremy Allen White – who took home the Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy in both 2024 and 2025 – was left off this year’s nominee list.
The full list of nominees spans all major television genres and platforms, with *Widow’s Bay* (19 nominations), *Pluribus* (18 nominations), and *Beef* (16 nominations) rounding out the top five most-nominated shows this year. In the Best Drama Series category, nominees include *The Diplomat* (Netflix), *The Gilded Age* (HBO Max), *A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms* (HBO Max), *Paradise* (Hulu), *The Pitt* (HBO Max), *Pluribus* (Apple TV+), *Slow Horses* (Apple TV+), and *Your Friends & Neighbors* (Apple TV+).
For Best Comedy Series, the lineup features *Abbott Elementary* (ABC), *The Bear* (FX/Hulu), *Hacks* (HBO Max), *Margo’s Got Money Troubles* (Apple TV+), *Nobody Wants This* (Netflix), *Only Murders In The Building* (Hulu), *Shrinking* (Apple TV+), and *Widow’s Bay* (Apple TV+). The Best Limited or Anthology Series category nominees are *All Her Fault* (Peacock), *The Beast In Me* (Netflix), *Beef* (Netflix), *DTF St Louis* (HBO Max), and *Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette* (FX/Hulu).
For *The Pitt*, lead star Noah Wyle earned a triple nomination this year: he is up for Best Lead Actor in a Drama, in addition to nods for directing and co-producing the series, marking a career high for the actor. *Hacks* also saw multiple cast members recognized, with Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder both earning comedy acting nominations.
Winners across all 78th Emmy Award categories will be announced during a live ceremony hosted in Los Angeles on September 14. Additional related content from this year’s nominee class includes exclusive interviews with Noah Wyle, Matthew Rhys, and Carey Mulligan, alongside deep dives into fan-favorite series that wrapped their runs this season.