Emmy winners Liza Colón‑Zayas and Jeff Hiller will announce the nominations for the 2026 Emmy Awards on Wednesday morning [1], [2].
The announcement marks the first step toward the 78th Emmy Awards [3], setting the stage for the industry's most prestigious honors in television. These nominations determine which actors, writers, and producers will compete for the top prizes in the fall.
The live broadcast serves as the official unveiling of the nominees for the 78th awards cycle [3]. This process narrows the field of eligible television programs and performers down to the final contenders who will be recognized at the main event.
The nominations lead directly to the primary awards ceremony, which is scheduled for Sept. 14, 2026 [3], [5]. This date marks the culmination of the voting process and the final celebration of the year's best in television.
Colón‑Zayas and Hiller, both previous Emmy winners, were selected to lead the announcement [2]. Their roles involve reading the nominees across various categories, including lead acting and outstanding series, to a global audience watching the live stream [1], [4].
Industry observers typically use the nomination list to predict the winners of the Sept. 14 ceremony [3], [5]. The 78th Emmy Awards continue the tradition of honoring excellence in both network and streaming television formats.
“Liza Colón‑Zayas and Jeff Hiller will announce the nominations.”
The announcement of the 78th Emmy nominations establishes the competitive landscape for the 2026 television season. By selecting previous winners to announce the nominees, the Television Academy maintains a bridge between established talent and new contenders, while the Sept. 14 ceremony date provides a fixed deadline for the industry's annual performance evaluation.
