Overview
- The Television Academy opened nominating ballots on Thursday and voting runs through June 22 for the 2026 Primetime Emmys.
- Total program submissions dropped to 555 from 600 last year, a 7.5 percent decline and the third straight annual fall.
- Variety special (pre-recorded) and drama series accounted for the largest losses, with pre-recorded specials down 23 entries to 66 and drama down 16 to 110.
- Because most categories set nominee counts by submission volume, the falls already cut slots across acting, directing and writing races and will narrow several nominee slates.
- Coverage and data tie the multi-year decline to early-2020s production disruptions, meaning fewer eligible shows and almost 150 fewer actors in performing categories this year.