Emmy Awards: 7 tight races we’re already watching

Gold Derby’s predictions for the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards have been live for a little more than 24 hours, and already, there are races that could come down to a photo finish. While there are certainly early favorites among the top categories, some leaders are holding onto slimmer margins than others.

With two months to go until the actual ceremony, these are the Emmy races that are shaping up to be some of the most exciting of the season.

Comedy Supporting Actress

The final season of Hacks and the breakout debut of Widow’s Bay are facing off across the ballot, but nowhere is their rivalry more heated than in Comedy Supporting Actress. Hannah Einbinder is looking to make it two in a row with another win in the category after claiming her first-ever Emmy for the role of Ava Daniels last year. Momentum and a fond farewell could deliver her back to the stage, but there is one big issue. Einbinder is facing Kate O’Flynn, whose Widow’s Bay character, Patricia, was a key factor in that show’s Season 1 success story.

Comedy Supporting Actor

Harrison Ford — the Red Hulk, himself — received only his second Emmy nomination for the most recent season of Shrinking, and he’s never won. The chance to reward a honest-to-God Hollywood icon with a competitive Emmy may be too great of an opportunity to pass up twice. However, his competition have strong narratives on their side as well. Paul W. Downs may have three Emmys for his work co-creating Hacks, but he has yet to be rewarded for his acting on the show. Meanwhile, character actor legend Stephen Root is somehow only up for his second Emmy nomination with Widow’s Bay. However this breaks down, someone will get some overdue praise.

Comedy Directing

Hacks co-creator Lucia Aniello has four previous wins — one of which came for directing — but the cumulative achievement of the series over the course of its run has likely put her back on top of the odds. But the possible spoiler here is Hiro Murai, an 11-time nominee and one-time winner, who has yet to win as a director. Widow’s Bay‘s tricky tonal balance could be seen as a filmmaking achievement worth awarding, even over a five-season favorite.

Drama Supporting Actor

After missing the nod for Season 1, Patrick Ball joined the ranks of his nominated The Pitt co-stars with the second season, but his path to victory isn’t an easy one. Not only is Ball facing Task scene-stealer Tom Pelphrey (earning his second nomination this year), but Shawn Hatosy, the former Guest Actor winner, now shortlisted in Supporting.

Drama Directing

Four-time Emmy winner Vince Gilligan, despite nominations for both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has never taken home a statuette for directing. If he’s going to notch his first victory in the category, he’ll have to do so over the already Emmy-approved actor Noah Wyle, who scored his first directing nod this year.

Limited Series

Beef may have swept the Limited Series category with its first installment, but the second iteration may have some stiffer competition. DTF St. Louis nearly matched the Netflix anthology in nomination count (13 to Beef‘s 16).

Movie/Limited Actress

Sarah Snook is a previous Emmy winner, has already taken home a Critics Choice Award for her performance in All Her Fault, and is looking like Carey Mulligan’s strongest competition out of the gate. Not to be forgotten, however, is another Sarah — Pidgeon — whose turn in Love Story could easily result in a happily ever after for her.