Let’s Talk Television with Jerm: Emmy Predictions 2026!

I find it ironic that I am here writing about “the best in TV” for my final Emmy Predictions when some of the best television has been happening over the last few weeks with the 2026 FIFA World Cup. What more could you want? Lots of suspense, drama, and edge-of-your-seat thrills. Honestly, there haven’t been too many shows this year that have given me this level of excitement. Unfortunately, none of that matters when it comes to the Emmys.

I find predicting the Emmys to be challenging, and yet predictable, all at the same time. On one hand, they choose their repeated favorites over and over again, especially when it comes to the winners. But then you can’t predict which show they will suddenly go cold on or get fired up for. So, I suspect there will be a healthy mix of all of that typical oddness when the Emmys announce their nominations Wednesday morning.

Before I get to my final predictions, I just want to give some shoutouts to a few of my favorite shows and performances that I hope to see nominated this year:

Landman – I am surprised by how much I love this show. Billy Bob Thornton is absolutely brilliant, as is Sam Elliott. I really hope to see several nominations for this show, but I fear it isn’t the taste of many voters. It really deserves all the love, in my opinion.
Shrinking – I will forever be upset with myself for not getting into this show sooner. I don’t know if there is a better ensemble cast on TV right now. Everyone is working in perfect unison in every scene. Jason, Harrison, Jessica, Michael, Christa, and Ted are all wonderful and deserve nominations.
Rooster – I loved this show so much. There was something incredibly comforting about watching it. I thought it was hilarious and exactly the kind of show that draws you into a community of unique personalities. Steve Carell is back, and I would love to watch him win if he got nominated, even if it is a long shot!
The Gilded Age – I do not care what anyone has to say about this show. It is wonderful. I get so swept up in period shows and films, and this one does not disappoint. The costumes, the sets, the acting…it is a show that has it all!
Kathy Bates, Matlock – The show itself has a lot of cheesiness to it, but Kathy is just so good. I love her as an actress, and I love seeing her get work that brings her back into the awards conversation.
Michelle Pfeiffer – This is a comeback year for Pfeiffer, who is in contention for two shows, The Madison and Margo’s Got Money Problems. I would give her the Emmy for either one, honestly. Michelle is a force to be reckoned with in both series. The Madison is more my style than Margo’s Got Money Problems, but that’s just me. Both shows and performances rightly deserve their place in the Emmy conversation, and they would be very welcome nominations!

Now, let’s get to my final predictions. I am only predicting the main series and acting categories.

Jerm’s Final Main Category Emmy Predictions

Drama Series

The Diplomat
The Gilded Age
Landman
Paradise
The Pitt
Pluribus
Slow Horses
Task

Drama Actress

Kathy Bates, Matlock
Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
Michelle Pfeiffer, The Madison
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus

Drama Actor

Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Mark Ruffalo, Task
Billy Bob Thornton, Landman
Noah Wyle, The Pitt

Drama Supporting Actress

Taylor Dearden, The Pitt
Fiona Dourif, The Pitt
Allison Janney, The Diplomat
Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt
Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
Karolina Wydra, Pluribus

Drama Supporting Actor

Patrick Ball, The Pitt
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Sam Elliott, Landman
Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt
Gerran Howell, The Pitt
Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
Tom Pelphrey, Task

Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary
The Bear
The Comeback
Hacks
Margo’s Got Money Problems
Only Murders in the Building
Shrinking
Widow’s Bay

Comedy Actress

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Problems
Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
Jean Smart, Hacks

Comedy Actor

Steve Carell, Rooster
Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay
Jason Segel, Shrinking
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

Comedy Supporting Actress

Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay
Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Problems
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Megan Stalter, Hacks
Jessica Williams, Shrinking

Comedy Supporting Actor

Paul W. Downs, Hacks
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Problems
Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Michael Urie, Shrinking

Limited Series

Beef
The Beast in Me
DTF St. Louis
Half Man
Love Story

Movie

Deep Cover
Miss You, Love You
People We Meet on Vacation
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Swiped

Movie/Limited Actress

Claire Danes, The Beast in Me
Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
Carey Mulligan, Beef
Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story
Sarah Snook, All Her Fault

Movie/Limited Actor

Jamie Bell, Half Man
Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Oscar Isaac, Beef
Paul Anthony Kelly, Love Story
Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me

Movie/Limited Supporting Actress

Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis
Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault
Grace Gummer, Love Story
Cailee Spaeny, Beef
Naomi Watts, Love Story
Youn Yuh-jung, Beef

Movie/Limited Supporting Actor

Jonathan Banks, The Beast in Me
Jason Bateman, DTF St. Louis
Richard Gadd, Half Man
David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
Troy Kotsur, Black Rabbit
Charles Melton, Beef

Now, does any of this mean I’m going to get everything right? Absolutely not. The Emmys have a way of humbling even the most confident predictor. Every year there’s a surprise nominee, a shocking snub, and at least one category that leaves us all scratching our heads wondering what the voters were thinking. That’s part of the fun, though! Hopefully my predictions will hold up, but like I said, with the Emmys, you just never know!

With that, my friends, let me know your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll see how it all shakes out Wednesday morning!

As always, be kind, be respectful, and of course…Let’s Talk Television!