Telecast to Trim Five Categories for 2026 Primetime Emmys

The Television Academy announced that five categories will be moved from the primetime Emmy Awards telecast on September 14 to the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 5-6. The categories affected are Writing for a Variety Series, Supporting Actor and Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, Directing for a Limited Series or Movie, and Writing for a Limited Series or Movie. Nominees in the shifted categories include shows such as "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver", "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert", and series like "Beef", "All Her Fault" and "Death By Lightning".

"The Television Academy is committed to delivering a fresh new take on the Emmys broadcast, with a focus on entertainment that celebrates television shows, artists and moments audiences love while honoring excellent work from the past year. Given the extraordinary breadth of work recognized each year and the limited time available within a three-hour broadcast, a select number of categories will be moving to the Emmy ceremonies taking place the week prior to the telecast. This thoughtful evolution ensures this year’s NBC ceremony and future broadcasts remain deeply engaging and tailored to the television audience," the Academy said in a statement. The shift is expected to reduce the number of awards presented during the three-hour primetime show, aligning with the Academy’s goal of a more streamlined broadcast. The full roster of Creative Arts Emmy categories for September 5 and 6 was also released, covering a wide range of technical and artistic fields.