The Television Academy has announced a surprising change for the 2026 Emmy Awards, revealing that certain significant categories will be excluded from the main ceremony, including some that feature popular names.
If you’re curious about whether David Harbour will go up against Jason Bateman or if Dakota Fanning will compete with Laurie Metcalf, you’ll have to check another event. These awards will no longer be part of the main broadcast.
The categories for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie will instead take place during the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, scheduled for a week prior to the televised event.
Other categories being shifted include scripts for variety series, directors of limited series or movies, and scripts for live variety specials.
This year, the Primetime Emmy Awards will showcase only 19 categories, a decrease from the 26 that were televised in 2025.
Page Six has reached out to the Television Academy for further information.
The supporting categories for actors and actresses in limited series or movies feature notable talent. In the realm of supporting actresses, nominees include Linda Cardellini for “DTF St. Louis,” Dakota Fanning for “All Her Faults,” Laurie Metcalf for “Monster: The Ed Gein Story,” and a few others. The supporting actor nominations also include big names like Jason Bateman and David Harbour.
In a statement released on Friday, the Television Academy explained that the adjustments were necessary due to the broad variety of projects being honored each year, combined with the limited time constraints of a three-hour broadcast.
They described the changes as a “thoughtful evolution,” aiming to make the ceremony more engaging and tailored to the television audience.
It’s interesting—and maybe a bit disappointing—that actors such as David Harbour and Dakota Fanning are being sidelined in this way, especially considering Gadd’s popularity as an Emmy contender for his 2024 series “Baby Reindeer.”
Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will host the 2026 Emmy Awards, set to air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will occur on September 5th and 6th, while the main ceremony will be on September 14th at 8 PM ET on NBC.
Notably, this year’s nominations have been led by “The Pit,” which topped the list with 25 nods, followed closely by “Hux” with 24. Apple TV’s horror/comedy “Widow’s Bay” secured 19 nominations in its inaugural season.
