The 2026 Emmy nominations delivered several expected contenders but also produced a number of high-profile surprises, with Sydney Sweeney, Stranger Things and Jeremy Allen White among the biggest names to miss out on key nominations.
The Television Academy unveiled this year’s nominees on Tuesday, sparking widespread debate after several acclaimed performances and popular series were overlooked.
Sydney Sweeney misses Euphoria nomination
One of the most notable omissions was Sydney Sweeney, who failed to receive a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the final season of Euphoria.
Despite widespread praise for her portrayal of Cassie Howard, Sweeney was left off the ballot, while co-star Zendaya secured another nomination in the Lead Actress in a Drama Series category.
Stranger Things shut out of major categories
Netflix’s Stranger Things also endured a disappointing awards morning.
The fifth and final season of the hit science-fiction drama was widely expected to feature prominently but failed to secure nominations in any major categories, including Outstanding Drama Series.
The omission marked a sharp contrast to previous years, when the series was one of the Emmy Awards’ most recognised programmes.
Jeremy Allen White misses comedy acting race
Another major surprise came in the comedy categories, where Jeremy Allen White was omitted from the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series race for the final season of The Bear.
White had previously won the award, making his absence one of the ceremony’s biggest talking points.
His co-star Ayo Edebiri, however, remained in contention after earning another acting nomination.
Widow’s Bay and Dancing With the Stars exceed expectations
Among the biggest success stories was Widow’s Bay, which emerged as one of this year’s breakout series with 19 Emmy nominations, significantly outperforming industry expectations.
Apple TV+ also celebrated a strong showing with Pluribus, helping the streaming platform record one of its best Emmy performances to date.
Reality television also produced a surprise, with Dancing With the Stars returning to the Outstanding Reality Competition Programme category for the first time in a decade.
Its return ended The Amazing Race’s long run in the category after the veteran series failed to receive a nomination.
Other notable omissions
Several other high-profile performances were overlooked, including Kathy Bates for Matlock, Jon Hamm for Your Friends & Neighbors and Michelle Pfeiffer for The Madison.
Meanwhile, newcomers Chase Infiniti and Connor Storrie secured breakthrough nominations that few awards analysts had predicted.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled to take place on September 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, where this year’s winners will be announced.
