Television Academy moves several acting and writing awards to the Creative Arts Emmys as the televised ceremony is reduced to 19 categories.
The Television Academy has announced significant changes to the 2026 Emmy Awards, removing several high-profile categories from the main televised ceremony as it seeks to streamline the annual broadcast.
This year’s Primetime Emmy Awards will present 19 awards during the live telecast, down from 26 categories featured in the 2025 ceremony.
Among the most notable changes is the removal of the Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie categories from the main broadcast. Those awards will instead be presented during the Creative Arts Emmys, scheduled for September 5 and 6, one week before the Primetime Emmy Awards air live on NBC on September 14.
The Television Academy has also shifted several writing and directing honours to the Creative Arts ceremony. These include Writing for a Variety Series, Directing for a Limited Series or TV Movie, Writing for a Limited Series or TV Movie, and Writing for a Variety Special (Live).
The supporting acting categories include several prominent nominees. The supporting actor race features Jason Bateman, David Harbour, Richard Gadd, Charles Melton, and Nick Offerman, while the supporting actress category includes Dakota Fanning, Laurie Metcalf, Linda Cardellini, Youn Yuh-jung, and Constance Zimmer.
Explaining the decision, the Television Academy said the growing number of eligible television programmes has made it increasingly difficult to accommodate every major category within the three-hour live broadcast.
In a statement, the Academy said the adjustments are intended to ensure the ceremony remains engaging for television audiences while continuing to recognise excellence across the expanding television industry.
The 2026 Emmy Awards will be hosted by Mariska Hargitay at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
This year’s nominations are led by HBO’s medical drama The Pitt, which earned 25 nominations, followed by Hacks with 24. Apple TV+’s Widow’s Bay received 19 nominations, making it one of the most recognised series of the year.