PLEASE REMEMBER: These forecasts do not necessarily reflect my personal preferences. My aim is not to advocate for what I think the members of the Television Academy should do, but rather to project what they will do.
A NOTE FROM SCOTT: The nominations round of Primetime Emmys voting officially kicked off last Thursday and is open until Monday, June 22. Then, things will go quiet until the nominees are announced on Wednesday, July 8. Below is my latest read of 35 categories encompassing programs — narrative, nonfiction, variety, reality and animation — as well as performances, hosting and casting.
Best Drama Series
'The Testaments'DISNEY/STEVE WILKIE
Frontrunners
1. The Pitt (HBO Max, s. 2, 15 eps., 1/8/26-4/16/26)
2. Pluribus (Apple TV, s. 1, 9 eps., 11/7/25-12/24/25)
3. The Diplomat (Netflix, s. 3, 8 eps., 10/16/25)
4. Task (HBO, s. 1, 7 eps., 9/7/25-10/19/25)
5. Slow Horses (Apple TV, s. 5, 6 eps., 9/24/25-10/29/25)
6. Paradise (Hulu, s. 2, 8 eps., 2/23/26-3/30/26)
7. Stranger Things (Netflix, s. 5, 8 eps., 11/26/25-12/31/25)
8. The Testaments (Hulu, s. 1, 10 eps., 4/8/26-5/27/26)
Major Threats
9. Fallout (Prime Video, s. 2, 8 eps., 12/16/25-2/3/26)
10. Euphoria (HBO, s. 3, 8 eps., 4/12/26-5/31/26)
11. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO, s. 1, 6 eps., 1/18/26-2/22/26)
12. Landman (Paramount+, s. 2, 10 eps., 11/16/25-1/18/26)
Possibilities
10. The Gilded Age (HBO, s. 3, 8 eps., 6/22/25-8/10/25)
14. The Morning Show (Apple TV, s. 4, 10 eps., 9/17/25-11/19/25)
15. The Madison (Paramount+, s. 1, 6 eps., 3/14/26-3/21/26)
16. The Audacity (AMC, s. 1, 8 eps., 4/12/26-5/31/26)
Long Shots
17. Industry (HBO, s. 4, 8 eps., 1/11/26-3/1/26)
18. The Boys (Prime Video, s. 5, 8 eps., 4/8/26-5/20/26)
19. The Night Manager (Amazon Prime, s. 2, 6 eps., 1/1/26-2/1/26)
20. The Boroughs (Netflix, s. 1, 8 eps., 5/21/26)
Best Comedy Series
'The Four Seasons' EMILY V ARAGONES/NETFLIX
Frontrunners
1. Hacks (HBO Max, s. 5, 10 eps., 4/9/26-5/28/26)
2. Shrinking (Apple TV, s. 3, 11 eps., 1/28/26-4/8/26)
3. Only Murders in the Building (Hulu, s. 5, 10 eps., 9/9/25-10/28/25)
4. Abbott Elementary (ABC, s. 5, 22 eps., 10/1/25-4/22/26)
5. Nobody Wants This (Netflix, s. 2, 10 eps., 10/23/25)
6. Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV, s. 1, 8 eps., 4/15/26-5/20/26)
7. Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat (Prime Video, s. 2, 8 eps., 3/20/26-4/3/26)
8. The Bear (FX, s. 4, 10 eps., 6/25/25)
Major Threats
9. Widow’s Bay (Apple TV, s. 1, 7 eps., 4/29/26-6/17/26)
10. I Love LA (HBO, s. 1, 8 eps., 11/2/25-12/21/25)
11. The Lowdown (FX, s. 1, 8 eps., 9/23/25-11/4/25)
12. Rooster (HBO, s. 1, TBD eps., 3/8/26-TBD)
13. The Comeback (HBO, s. 3, 8 eps., 3/22/26-5/10/26)
14. The Four Seasons (Netflix, s. 2, 8 eps., 5/28/26)
15. Wonder Man (Disney+, s. 1, 8 eps., 1/27/26)
Possibilities
16. Big Mistakes (Netflix, s. 1, 8 eps., 4/9/26)
17. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (NBC, s. 1, 10 eps., 1/18/26-4/13/26)
18. Wednesday (Netflix, s. 2, 8 eps., 8/6/25-9/3/25)
19. Spider-Noir (Prime Video, s. 1, 8 eps., 5/27/26)
20. Ted (Peacock, s. 2, 8 eps., 3/5/26)
21. Poker Face (Peacock, s. 2, 12 eps., 5/8/25-7/10/25)
Long Shots
22. Palm Royale (Apple TV, s. 2, 10 eps., 11/12/25-1/14/26)
23. Elsbeth (CBS, s. 3, 20 eps., 10/12/25-TBD)
24. A Man on the Inside (Netflix, s. 2, 8 eps., 11/20/25)
25. The Chair Company (HBO, s. 1, 8 eps., 10/12/25-11/30/25)
26. The Hunting Wives (Netflix, s. 1, 8 eps., 7/21/25)
27. Stick (Apple TV, s. 1, 10 eps, 6/3/25-7/22/25
28. The ‘Burbs (Peacock, s. 1, 8 eps., 2/8/26)
Best Limited or Anthology Series
'DTF St. Louis'COURTESY OF HBO
Frontrunners
1. Love Story (FX/FX on Hulu, s. 1, 8 eps., 2/12/26-3/26/26)
2. Beef (Netflix, s. 2, 8 eps., 4/16/26)
3. The Beast in Me (Netflix, s. 1, 8 eps., 11/13/25)
4. All Her Fault (Peacock, s. 1, 8 eps., 11/7/25-12/26/25)
5. DTF St. Louis (HBO Max, s. 1, 7 eps., 3/1/26-4/12/26)
Major Threats
6. Half Man (HBO, s. 1, 6 eps., 4/23/26-TBD)
7. Black Rabbit (Netflix, s. 1, 8 eps., 9/18/25)
8. Lord of the Flies (Netflix, s. 1, 4 eps., 5/4/26)
9. Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix, s. 1, 8 eps., 10/3/25)
Possibilities
10. Bait (Prime Video, s. 1, 6 eps., 3/25/26)
11. Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen (Netflix, s. 1, 8 eps., 3/26/26)
12. Death by Lightning (Netflix, s. 1, 4 eps., 11/6/25)
13. Imperfect Women (Apple TV, s. 1, 8 eps., 3/18/26-4/29/26)
Long Shots
14. The Girlfriend (Prime Video, s. 1, 6 eps., 9/10/25)
15. The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (Hulu, s. 1, 8 eps., 8/20/25-10/1/25)
16. Hal & Harper (Mubi, s. 1, 8 eps., 10/19/25)
17. Red Alert (Paramount+, s. 1, 4 eps., 107/25)
Best Movie
'Miss You, Love You'JORDIN ALTHAUS/HBO
Frontrunners
1. Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix, 5/8/26)
2. Deep Cover (Prime Video, 6/12/25)
3. Swiped (Hulu, 9/19/25)
4. Miss You, Love You (HBO, TBD)
5. Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (Hulu, 3/27/26)
Major Threats
6. Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Ghost War (Prime Video, 5/20/26)
7. People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix, 1/9/26)
8. The Best You Can (Apple TV, 6/7/25)
Possibilities
9. Echo Valley (Apple TV, 6/13/25)
10. Heads of State (Prime Video, 7/2/25)
11. Pizza Movie (Hulu, 3/13/26)
Long Shots
12. Love, Again (Lifetime, 5/9/26)
13. Oh. What. Fun. (Prime Video, 12/3/25)
14. Straw (Netflix, 6/6/25)
15. Ruth and Boaz (Netflix, 9/26/25)
Best Variety Series
Bill Maher on 'Real Time with Bill Maher'COURTESY OF HBO
Frontrunners
1. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS, s. 11, 118 eps., 9/2/25-TBD) — podcast [Stephen Colbert]
2. Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC, s. 24, TBD eps., 9/2/25-TBD) — podcast[Jimmy Kimmel]
3. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO, s. 13, TBD eps., 2/15/26-TBD)
4. Saturday Night Live (NBC, s. 51, 20 eps., 10/4/25-TBD) — podcast[Lorne Michaels]
5. The Daily Show (Comedy Central, s. 31, TBD eps., 1/5/26-TBD)
Major Threats
6. Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC, s. 13, TBD eps., 9/22/25-TBD) — podcast [Seth Meyers]
7. Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO, s. 24, TBD eps., 1/23/26-TBD) — podcast [Bill Maher]
8. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC, s. 13, TBD eps., 9/22/25-TBD) — podcast [Jimmy Fallon]
Possibilities
9. Hot Ones (YouTube, s. 28, 12 eps., 9/18/25-12/4/25) — podcast [Sean Evans]
10. It’s Florida, Man. (HBO Max, s. 2, 6 eps., 11/28/25-1/2/26)
Long Shots
11. The Graham Norton Show (BBC, s. 33, 22 eps., 9/26/25-3/6/26)
12. Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo, s. 23, TBD eps., 1/5/26-TBD) — podcast [Andy Cohen]
Best Competition Program
'Squid Game: The Challenge'COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Frontrunners
1. The Traitors (Peacock)
2. Survivor (CBS)
3. RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV) — podcast [RuPaul Charles]
4. Top Chef (Bravo)
5. The Amazing Race (CBS)
Major Threats
6. Funny AF with Kevin Hart (Netflix) — podcast [Kevin Hart]
7. The Voice (NBC)
8. American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
Possibilities
8. Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix)
10. Dancing with the Stars (Disney+)
11. Project Runway (Freeform)
Long Shots
12. Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (HBO Max/Food Network)
13. Beat Bobby Flay (Food Network)
14. Tournament of Champions VII (Food Network)
Best Structured Reality Program
'Queer Eye'COURTESY OF NETFLIX
Frontrunners
1. Queer Eye (Netflix)
2. Love Is Blind (Netflix)
3. Shark Tank (ABC)
4. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network)
5. Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
Major Threats
6. Love Overboard (Hulu)
7. Age of Attraction (Netflix)
Possibilities
8. Bear Grylls Is Running Wild (Fox)
Best Unstructured Reality Program
'Summer House'JOCELYN PRESCOD/BRAVO
Frontrunners
1. Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
2. Welcome to Wrexham (FX)
3. RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked (MTV)
4. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Hulu)
5. Summer House (Bravo)
Major Threats
6. Neighbors (HBO)
7. America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
Possibilities
8. Below Deck Down Under (Bravo)
9. Selling Sunset (Netflix)
10. Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars (Apple)
Long Shots
11. Vanderpump Rules (Bravo)
12. Back to the Frontier (Magnolia Network)
Best Game Show
'Celebrity Weakest Link'GREG GAYNE/FOX
Frontrunners
1. Jeopardy! (ABC/Syndicated)
2. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (ABC) — podcast [Jimmy Kimmel]
3. Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
4. Wheel of Fortune (ABC/Syndicated) — podcast [Ryan Seacrest]
5. The Price Is Right (CBS)
Major Threats
6. Celebrity Weakest Link (Fox) — podcast [Jane Lynch]
7. Match Game (ABC) — podcast [Martin Short]
Possibilities
8. What’s in the Box? (Netflix)
9. The Floor (Fox)
10. Game Changer (Dropout)
Best Documentary Special
'Seen and Heard: The History Of Black Television'HBO
Frontrunners
1. My Mom Jayne (HBO) — podcast [Mariska Hargitay]
2. Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man (HBO Max) — podcast [Judd Apatow]
3. Ocean with David Attenborough (Nat Geo)
4. John Candy: I Like Me (Prime Video)
5. Marty, Life Is Short (Netflix) — podcast [Martin Short]
Major Threats
6. Being Eddie (Netflix) — podcast [Eddie Murphy]
7. I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not (CNN)
8. Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television (HBO) — podcast [Issa Rae]
9. Paul McCartney: Man on the Run (Prime Video)
10. Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO)
Possibilities
11. Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost (Apple TV) — podcast [Ben Stiller]
12. aka Charlie Sheen (Netflix)
13. Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery (Hulu)
14. #SKYKING (Hulu)
Long Shots
15. Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision (Prime Video)
16. Selena y Los Dinos (Netflix)
17. Disneyland Handcrafted (Disney+)
18. BTS: The Return (Netflix)
Best Documentary Series
'Rafa'NETFLIX
Frontrunners
1. Sean Combs: The Reckoning (Netflix) — podcast [Sean Combs]
2. Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV) — podcast [Martin Scorsese]
3. Taylor Swift: The End of an Era (Disney+)
4. The Yogurt Shop Murders (HBO Max)
5. Rafa (Netflix)
Major Threats
6. The American Revolution (PBS) — podcast [Ken Burns]
7. Bowling Wars (HBO)
Possibilities
8. The Dark Wizard (HBO)
9. Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars (Apple TV)
Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
'Natchez'OSCILLOSCOPE
Frontrunners
1. Natchez (PBS)
2. The Tale of Silyan (Nat Geo)
Best Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in 'Finding Your Roots'PBS
Frontrunners
1. My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (Netflix) — podcast [David Letterman]
2. Tucci in Italy (Nat Geo) — podcast [Stanley Tucci]
3. The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (Apple TV) — podcast[Eugene Levy]
4. Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (PBS)
5. The Dinosaurs (Netflix)
Major Threats
6. The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers The Pulse: Give the Man a Prize (Comedy Central)
7. Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix)
Possibilities
8. Famous Last Words (Netflix)
9. Limitless: Live Better Now (Nat Geo)
10. Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain (CNN)
Long Shots
11. Pole to Pole with Will Smith (Nat Geo) — podcast [Will Smith]
12. Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age (Apple TV)
Best Animated Program
'Rick and Morty'ADULT SWIM
Frontrunners
1. Bob’s Burgers (Fox)
2. The Simpsons (Fox)
3. South Park (Comedy Central)
4. Rick and Morty (Adult Swim)
5. Long Story Short (Netflix)
Major Threats
6. Primal (Adult Swim)
7. King of the Hill (Hulu)
8. Mating Season (Netflix)
Possibilities
9. Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord (Disney+)
10. Marvel Zombies (Disney+)
11. Haha, You Clowns (Adult Swim)
