Creative Arts Emmy winner predictions: Widow’s Bay, The Pitt, more

The 2027 Emmys have nearly arrived: 102 trophies will be awarded Saturday and Sunday at the Creative Arts portion of the awards. That’s when we’ll learn whether Widow’s Bay or Hacks is the comedy to beat, whether The Pitt can hold off drama momentum from newbie Pluribus, and whether DTF St. Louis can disrupt Beef‘s second course.

So, who will win at the Creative Arts?

Our experts from leading media outlets have finalized predictions in 37 key categories, including Best Limited/Movie Supporting Acting, Directing, and Writing (all moving over from the Primetime Emmys). David Harbour and Linda Cardellini are out front to win their contests for DTF St. Louis, which is also the front-runner for directing; Beef has the edge in writing.

The four Best Guest Acting trophies are projected to go to Shailene Woodley (Pluribus), Colman Domingo (Euphoria), Kaitlin Olson (Hacks), and Michael J. Fox (Shrinking). And the influential Best Casting categories — which frequently foretell which series will win — are led by Widow’s Bay, The Pitt, and Beef.

Other odds leaders we’re keeping our eye on: Remarkably Bright Creatures for Best Movie, Alan Cumming (The Traitors) for Best Reality Host, Martin Short (Match Game) for Best Game Show Host, Jeopardy for Best Game Show, and South Park for Best Animated Program.

Shows with the most Creative Arts nominations include Hacks (17), Beef (13), The Pitt (13), DTF St. Louis (12), Pluribus (12), Widow’s Bay (12), Spider-Noir (11), and Saturday Night Live (10). See the complete list of Emmy nominations in all categories.

Here are the experts’ winner predictions in all the top categories:

Best Limited/Movie Supporting Actress

Best Limited/Movie Supporting Actor

Best Drama Guest Actress

Best Drama Guest Actor

Best Comedy Guest Actress

Best Comedy Guest Actor

Best Limited/Movie Directing

Best Limited/Movie Writing

Best Movie

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

Remarkably Bright Creatures

2.

3.

4.

5.

People We Meet on Vacation

Best Reality Host

Best Game Show Host

Best Game Show

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

3.

4.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

5.

Best Variety Special Live

Best Variety Special Recorded

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

3.

Wicked: One Wonderful Night

4.

Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable

5.

Best Variety Series Directing

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

Late Show with Stephen Colbert

3.

Best Variety Series Writing

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

2.

Late Show with Stephen Colbert

3.

Best Variety Special Directing

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable

3.

4.

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

5.

Best Variety Special Writing

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

Chris Fleming: Live At The Palace

3.

4.

5.

Best Animated Program

Best Voice-Over Performance

Best Narrator

Best Structured Reality Program

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Best Unstructured Reality Program

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked

3.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

4.

5.

Best Documentary Series

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

3.

Sean Combs: The Reckoning

4.

5.

Best Documentary Special

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

3.

4.

Ocean with David Attenborough

5.

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man

Best Documentary Filmmaking

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

Best Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse

2.

3.

Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.

4.

My Next Guest Needs No Introduction

5.

The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy

Best Main Title Design

Best Main Title Theme Music

Best Music for Series

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

3.

4.

5.

6.

Best Music for Limited Series

Best Music and Lyrics

Best Music Supervision

Best Music Direction

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

Wicked: One Wonderful Night

3.

Late Show with Stephen Colbert

4.

5.

Best Drama Casting

Best Comedy Casting

Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2026

Drama Guest ActressDrama Guest ActorComedy Guest ActressComedy Guest ActorLimited/Movie Supporting ActressLimited/Movie Supporting ActorLimited/Movie DirectingLimited/Movie WritingMovieReality HostGame Show HostGame ShowVariety Special LiveVariety Special RecordedVariety Series DirectingVariety Series WritingVariety Special DirectingVariety Special WritingAnimated ProgramVoice-Over PerformanceNarratorStructured Reality ProgramUnstructured Reality ProgramDocumentary SeriesDocumentary SpecialDocumentary FilmmakingHosted Nonfiction Series or SpecialMain Title DesignMain Title Theme MusicMusic for SeriesMusic for Limited SeriesMusic and LyricsMusic SupervisionMusic DirectionDrama CastingComedy CastingMovie/Limited Casting

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Only Murders in the Building

Best Movie/Limited Casting

The Creative Arts Emmys will be held over two consecutive nights — Sept. 5 (focusing mostly on unscripted) and Sept. 6 (focusing mostly on scripted) — at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.