Pluribus and Hacks lead the 2026 Emmy predictions as top drama and comedy contenders

• Apple TV's Pluribus is the current predicted winner for Outstanding Drama Series at the 2026 Emmys
• Hacks on HBO Max leads the Comedy Series predictions, with Jean Smart tipped for Lead Actress
• Beef on Netflix is predicted to win Limited Series, with Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan tipped as acting winners
  

Variety's Awards Circuit — the publication's dedicated home for awards season news and predictions — has released its latest Emmy forecasts, curated by chief awards editor Clayton Davis.

The predictions reflect the current state of the race and are subject to change as buzz and events develop. They are updated every Thursday.

Key dates for the Emmy cycle include: category submissions due 7 May, with eligibility ending 31 May. Nomination voting runs from 11 to 22 June, with nominations announced on 8 July.

Final voting takes place between 17 and 26 August, ahead of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Governors Gala on 5 to 6 September. The Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled for 14 September on NBC.

Drama Series

Apple TV's Pluribus is the current predicted winner in the drama category, with competition expected from The Diplomat (Netflix), Paradise (Hulu), The Pitt (HBO Max), Slow Horses (Apple TV), Stranger Things (Netflix), Task (HBO Max) and The Testaments (Hulu).

Comedy Series

Hacks on HBO Max leads the comedy predictions, with Abbott Elementary (ABC), The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (NBC), Jury Duty: Company Retreat (Prime Video), Margo's Got Money Troubles (Apple TV), Nobody Wants This (Netflix), Rooster (HBO Max) and Shrinking (Apple TV) among the predicted nominees.

Limited or Anthology Series

Netflix's Beef is tipped as the frontrunner in the limited series category, ahead of Black Rabbit (Netflix), DTF St. Louis (HBO Max), Lord of the Flies (Netflix) and Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette (FX).

Outstanding Movie

Remarkably Bright Creatures on Netflix leads the Outstanding Movie predictions, alongside Deep Cover (Prime Video), Mike and Nick & Nick and Alice (Hulu), Miss You, Love You (HBO Max) and People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix).

Lead Acting Categories

In the drama acting races, Noah Wyle (The Pitt, HBO Max) is predicted to win Lead Actor, with Sterling K. Brown, Gary Oldman, Mark Ruffalo and Billy Bob Thornton among the predicted nominees.

Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus, Apple TV) leads the Lead Actress drama predictions, ahead of Kathy Bates, Michelle Pfeiffer, Keri Russell and Zendaya.

In comedy, Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building, Hulu) is the predicted Lead Actor winner, with Adam Brody, Steve Carell, Steve Martin and Jason Segel as predicted nominees.

Jean Smart (Hacks, HBO Max) leads the Lead Actress comedy category, ahead of Quinta Brunson, Elle Fanning, Lisa Kudrow and Keke Palmer.

For Limited Series or Movie, Oscar Isaac (Beef, Netflix) leads the Lead Actor predictions, with Jason Bateman, Jamie Bell, Charlie Hunnam and Matthew Rhys among the forecast nominees.

Carey Mulligan (Beef, Netflix) tops the Lead Actress predictions in the same category, ahead of Claire Danes, Sarah Pidgeon, Sarah Snook and Kerry Washington.

Supporting Categories

Shawn Hatosy (The Pitt, HBO Max) is predicted to win Supporting Actor in Drama, with Patrick Ball, Billy Crudup, Ato Essandoh, Tom Pelphrey, Kurt Russell and Carlos-Manuel Vesga among the predicted nominees. Katherine LaNasa (The Pitt, HBO Max) leads the Supporting Actress Drama predictions.

Harrison Ford (Shrinking, Apple TV) is the predicted winner for Supporting Actor in Comedy, ahead of Colman Domingo, Paul W. Downs, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Nick Offerman, Michael Urie and Bowen Yang. Michelle Pfeiffer (Margo's Got Money Troubles, Apple TV) leads the Supporting Actress Comedy category.

David Harbour (DTF St. Louis, HBO Max) tops the Supporting Actor Limited/Movie predictions, whilst Cailee Spaeny (Beef, Netflix) is predicted to win Supporting Actress in the same category.

Directing and Writing

Vince Gilligan's direction of "We Is Us" for Pluribus (Apple TV) leads the Drama Directing predictions. Lucia Aniello's work on the series finale of Hacks tops the Comedy Directing category. Lee Sung Jin's direction of Beef leads in the Limited Series/Movie category.

In writing, Vince Gilligan is again the predicted winner for Drama, for Pluribus. The Shrinking writing team of Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein and Neil Goldman leads Comedy Writing predictions. Steven Conrad is predicted to win for DTF St. Louis in the Limited/Movie Writing category.

Other Notable Categories

The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert are all predicted nominees in the Variety Series category. Survivor (CBS) leads the Competition Programme predictions, with Jeff Probst tipped to win Host for Reality/Competition Programme. Queer Eye (Netflix) leads both Structured and Unstructured Reality predictions.

Bad Bunny's Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show is the predicted winner for Variety Special (Live), whilst Nikki Glaser's Good Girl (Hulu) leads the pre-recorded Variety Special category. Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV) tops the Documentary Series predictions.