Emmys: Predictions Expand to 36 Categories With Key Entries From ‘Jury Duty: Company Retreat,’ David Harbour and Elisabeth Moss

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Primetime Emmys Predictions Commentary All Categories (Updated: April 23, 2026): We’re deep in the thick of the Emmy season, with submissions rolling in and a wave of new and returning series making the cutoff ahead of the May 31 eligibility deadline.

The cast of HBO Max’s “DTF St. Louis” is set to campaign in supporting categories, opening the door for multiple performers to gain traction. Among the most notable are Jason Bateman and David Harbour, both of whom are in play for potential double nominations — not only as executive producers, but also for acting. Bateman is eyeing recognition for the miniseries “Black Rabbit,” while Harbour remains a contender for the final season of “Stranger Things.”

Prime Video is making a strong push with the comedy “Jury Duty: Company Retreat,” submitting 19 actors across supporting and guest categories. There’s particular emphasis on Episode 7, “Mergers and Acquisitions,” which is shaping up to be a key submission for director Jake Szymanski. “The episode highlights the real emotion and humanity Anthony could bring only because of the world so brilliantly built by our cast and crew,” Szymanski tells Variety. “It was an extreme challenge, but extremely rewarding, to construct this world for months and put the pieces in place to capture this climax in real time. I’ve never experienced anything else like it.”

Amazon is also backing the British comedy “Bait,” starring Riz Ahmed, with plans to compete in the limited series category — a field that could prove less crowded this year, as Variety recently covered. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Starz’s upcoming “Amadeus” will instead be submitted for the International Emmys, taking it out of the Primetime race.

Elisabeth Moss successfully petitioned to compete in the guest drama actress category for Hulu’s “The Testaments,” the spinoff of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” for which she won lead drama actress in 2017.

Netflix’s second installment of its anthology series “Beef” arrived to strong acclaim and is widely expected to be a major contender, with acting bids likely for Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny and Yuh-jung Youn. Sprinkle in the added possibility that Song Kang Ho as well. That’s a “beefy” Emmy haul (pun intended). We’ll see how it’s ultimately embraced.

This week also marks the debut of Richard Gadd’s “Half Man” for viewers, which arrives following a more mixed-to-positive critical response than anticipated. The series currently holds a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 37 reviews.

Variety chief TV critic Aramide Tinubu praised the show, writing: “‘Half Man’ is an excellent but difficult watch. A viciousness runs through the narrative, with countless acts of violence depicted. For those who stick it out, the final episode features one of the most emotionally shattering scenes on television.”

Despite the reviews, the series is still expected to be a significant player in the limited series race, particularly for star Jamie Bell. The six-episode British drama from the creator of “Baby Reindeer” has the goods to be an acting juggernaut, though it remains unclear how its four central actors — Gadd, Bell, Stuart Campbell and Mitchell Robertson — will ultimately be submitted.

Several category configurations are possible, but the most logical approach would place Bell and Robertson — who portray older and younger versions of Niall Kennedy — in lead, with Gadd and Campbell — playing older and younger versions of Ruben Pallister — competing in supporting.

This week’s latest predictions are below, with the first overall looks at the directing, writing, casting, animated program, structured and unstructured reality categories, and the first ranking category charts debuting for supporting actor for drama, comedy and limited/movie.

NOTE: All official category placements in predictions have yet to be confirmed.

Upcoming key dates: category submissions are due May 7, with eligibility ending May 31. Nomination voting runs from June 11-22, with nominations being announced on July 8. Final voting takes place Aug. 17–26, leading into the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Governors Gala on Sept. 5-6. The Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will be on Sept. 14 on NBC.

Projected nomination leaders (series): “The Pitt” (13); “Shrinking” (11); “Beef” and “Hacks” (10); “Pluribus” (9); “DTF St. Louis,” “Half Man” and “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bissette” (7)

Projected nomination leaders (networks): HBO Max (53); Netflix (44); Apple TV (32); FX and Hulu (17); ABC (9)

See all Primetime Emmy predictions

Variety Awards Circuit: Emmys

*** = PREDICTED WINNER
(All predicted nominees listed below are in alphabetical order)

• Drama Series

  

  “The Diplomat” (Netflix)
  “Euphoria” (HBO Max)
  “Paradise” (Hulu)
  “The Pitt” (HBO Max) ***
  “Pluribus” (Apple TV)
  “Slow Horses” (Apple TV)
  “Stranger Things” (Netflix)
  “The Testaments” (Hulu)

  Emmy category page with rankings>>>