The nominations for the 2026 awards revealed a significant number of surprising absences from the prestigious competition. While the expected favorites got their expected recognition with shows like “The Pitt” garnering 25 nominations and “Hacks” receiving 24, several fan-favorite series and acclaimed actors were clearly left out of the nominations, especially in top-tier categories.The eligibility window for this year’s awards includes shows that aired between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025. This timing means that recent major releases, such as “House of the Dragon,” Season 3, “Every Year After” and “Dutton Ranch,” either did not air an episode before the deadline or did not air enough episodes to be considered eligible. Ceremony of 2027 instead.According to USA Today, production rules also require shows to be produced at least in part by a US partner This requirement made the cultural phenomenon “Heated Rivalry” completely ineligible for consideration, as the show was produced and distributed by a Canadian service and only licensed to an American platform.
Jeremy Allen White’s shocking omission
Jeremy Allen White, star of the acclaimed drama series ‘The Bear’, experienced one of the most notable snubs of the nominations cycle. White has received three previous nominations for playing the anxiety-ridden head chef and won lead actor in a comedy series in both 2023 and 2024. His complete absence from the 2026 nominations represents a dramatic reversal of fortune for the actor. However, his co-star Ayo Edebiri secured a nomination at the same ceremony highlighting the selective nature of the voting body’s choices.
The actress was passed over for Lead Actress in a Comedy despite the continued success of Only Murders in the Building. Image credit (X).
Paul Anthony Kelly is not recognized for playing JFK Jr
Sarah Pidgeon, who played Carolyn Bessette in the drama about the romance between an American icon and a fashion publicist, earned a nomination for her role in the anthology series. However, Paul Anthony Kelly, who received positive reviews from critics for his portrayal of JFK Jr., failed to secure a nomination in the lead actor category despite the acclaim surrounding his performance.
‘The Comeback’ excluded from the comedy series competition
Lisa Kudrow made a successful return to lead actress in a comedy series category for her series about a fading actress trying to regain fame and acclaim in the industry. However, the show itself failed to secure a nomination in the category of Best Competitive Comedy Series. Nominations in this category were for “Abbott Elementary,” “Hacks,” “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” “Nobody Wants This,” “Only Murders in the Building,” “Shrinking” and “Widow’s Bay,” leaving the show without representation in the top category despite Kudrow’s personal recognition.
‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Euphoria’ fail the drama series category
“Stranger Things” and “Euphoria” returned during the eligibility period for highly anticipated final seasons, but failed to earn nominations in the outstanding drama series category, which represents the competition’s most prestigious television award. Both shows received seven nominations in total, with “Euphoria” securing a lead actress in a drama nomination for its star. Despite their cultural significance and dedicated fan base, neither reached the top flight.
‘Death by Lightning’ is not widely recognized
The gritty historical drama about President James Garfield and his assassin earned four nominations in total, including one for Best Supporting Actor. However, the show failed to garner recognition in the Best Limited Series category, with neither of its two leads receiving nominations despite critical acclaim and inclusion on major publications’ year-end best-of lists.
Taylor Sheridan shows her struggle with awards
Power producer Taylor Sheridan, known for creating “Yellowstone” and its various spinoffs, as well as other series like “Tulsa King,” “Landman” and others, has consistently seen his shows perform strongly with audiences but struggle with voters. Despite having several shows eligible for the 2026 awards, including several that are among the top-rated shows on the major networks, only one of its productions earned a nomination, specifically for stunt coordination in comedy programming.