The Television Academy is making a big change to the Emmy Awards and the outrage and backlash from fans is already palpable.
Ahead of the 78th Emmy Awards on September 14, the Television Academy announced which categories will be presented during the live NBC telecast and which will instead be awarded during the Creative Arts Emmys. According to Variety, the categories moving off the main broadcast are Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, in addition to several craft awards, including sound editing, sound mixing, visual effects, stunt coordination, stunt performance, title design, and Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
The Creative Arts Emmys have traditionally recognized many of television’s technical achievements before the primetime ceremony, and the Emmy nominations for 2026 were just recently revealed (with some notable snubs). However, the decision to move two acting categories out of the live broadcast immediately prompted criticism from viewers, with many arguing those performances deserve the same spotlight as the comedy and drama acting races.
X user @lionesspike called the decision “insane and utterly disrespectful,” writing, “supporting actress in a limited series was Julianne Nicholson’s first ever Emmy… we would’ve been robbed of one of my favorite ever Emmys moments.” The post pointed to Nicholson’s 2021 win for Mare of Easttown as an example of the memorable acceptance speeches that could now happen outside the main telecast.
Another X user criticized what they viewed as the Academy prioritizing entertainment over awards, writing, “Oh good, comedic bits. What we all come to this telecast for. Certainly not to see an overdue television veteran like Linda Cardellini or Constance Zimmer win their first Emmy.”
A similar reaction came from another viewer, who wrote, “No one who watches the Emmys cares about ‘musical performances’ and ‘comedic bits,’ change this @TelevisionAcad, it’s absolutely absurd.” Others suggested the decision reflects a larger trend affecting awards shows in recent years. One X user argued, “Another brilliant notch in the belt of the never-successful ‘we need to make this award show less about awards’ journey.”
X user @intothecrevasse continued to shed light on the talent types and standout examples that will be impacted, writing “The award that Jennifer Coolidge won for White Lotus. That’s the speech you don’t want on TV. Okay.” Another reaction echoed that sentiment, stating, “Literally the opposite of what hard-working industry peers want or the public wants to see, but okay… #Emmys.”
The overwhelming reaction suggests many viewers aren’t objecting to the Creative Arts Emmys themselves, but rather to the removal of acting categories from the primetime ceremony. Supporting performance races have long produced some of the Emmys’ most memorable acceptance speeches, making their absence from the live broadcast a sore spot among fans.
The Television Academy has not publicly responded to the criticism.
The 78th Emmy Awards, hosted by Mariska Hargitay, will air live coast-to-coast on NBC on Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT from the Peacock Theater at L.A. The awards show will also stream on Peacock.
- Location
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The Peacock Theater, Los Angeles, CA
- Dates
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September 14, 2026