Emmys to Move Five Categories Out of NBC Telecast In a Bid to Revamp the Ceremony (EXCLUSIVE)

The Television Academy has announced a significant change to the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards by moving five categories out of the primary NBC telecast. This decision is part of a broader effort to revamp the ceremony's structure. According to an exclusive report from Variety, these specific awards will no longer be presented during the main televised event. This shift means the ceremony will return to television this year with fewer awards being presented on screen than in previous iterations of the show. Coverage of this development is widespread across entertainment news outlets.

Variety first reported the move as an exclusive, while Deadline and Page Six characterized the decision as a shocking move to cut major categories. Vulture has focused on identifying which specific awards will remain televised this year, and Gold Derby highlighted that these cuts are occurring ahead of the hosting debut of Mariska Hargitay. Club also confirmed that the event will feature fewer awards during its television broadcast. This structural change has triggered immediate backlash from major industry organizations. According to reports from Deadline, the Directors Guild of America (DGA), the Writers Guild of America (WGA), and SAG-AFTRA have all launched protests against the Television Academy's decision to cut these categories.

The tension stems from the removal of major accolades from the high-visibility portion of the evening, which traditionally serves as the primary platform for recognizing professional achievement in television. Looking forward, the focus remains on the finalized list of categories that will be aired on NBC. Observers are monitoring the ongoing protests from the DGA, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA to see if the Television Academy will reverse or modify the decision. Additionally, the industry is awaiting the execution of the revamped ceremony format and the performance of Mariska Hargitay in her first turn as the host of the event.