Apple TV Leads the Emmys Race After Creative Arts Weekend, With HBO and Netflix Close Behind
Apple TV holds the lead after the first two nights of the 2026 Emmy Awards, with 19 wins — 20 counting its Commercial Emmy — followed by HBO/HBO Max at 16 and Netflix at 13. The 78th Emmy Awards Creative Arts ceremonies took place over September 5 and 6, with 102 categories awarded across the two nights, ahead of the main September 14 telecast. Television Academy
Apple's frontrunner is Widow's Bay, which has already collected 8 wins, including Casting for a Comedy Series — a trophy that Hacks had been chasing. Hacks, which earned 24 nominations this year, ended its run without ever winning that particular award. Deadline
HBO/HBO Max is carried by DTF St. Louis, with 6 wins so far. The network's most-nominated series, The Pitt (25 nominations), repeated as the winner of the Casting for a Drama Series Emmy and is the frontrunner heading into the main telecast for Outstanding Drama Series, with Noah Wyle favoured for Lead Actor. Wyle opened Night 2 of the ceremonies. Deadline
The other most-nominated programs this year are HBO Max's Hacks with 24, Apple TV's Widow's Bay with 19, and Apple TV's Pluribus with 18. Pluribus has a strong shot at Lead Actress through Rhea Seehorn — a category where The Pitt does not compete. Deadline
On the comedy side, Jean Smart (Hacks) and Matthew Rhys (Widow's Bay) are odds-on favourites for Lead Actress and Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Widow's Bay also picked up a Guest Actress win for Betty Gilpin, who defeated the early favourite in that race. Deadline
FX's Love Story scored a surprise casting Emmy — a category that often signals where a show's creative strength sits, since it recognises the people who assemble the on-screen ensemble. Deadline
In unscripted categories, Alan Cumming won for hosting The Traitors, RuPaul Charles for RuPaul's Drag Race, and Kristen Kish for Top Chef. Stephen Colbert was also among the night's winners. USA Today Deadline
Only three long-form series Emmy categories remain heading into the September 14 telecast, with Netflix's Beef named a strong contender. Netflix could also pull an upset through Keri Russell for The Diplomat in Lead Actress. Deadline
Last year, HBO Max and Netflix tied at 30 Emmy wins each. This year's standings have already shifted that balance, with Apple TV now ahead of both.
For fans, the September 14 telecast will settle the biggest remaining questions: whether The Pitt converts its nominations haul into top-category wins, whether Widow's Bay extends its lead, and whether Netflix can close the gap in the final stretch.
The two Creative Arts nights will be edited into a single broadcast airing Saturday, September 12 on FXX at 8 p.m., for viewers who want to catch the full run of winners before the main event. Television Academy
