Daytime Emmys Announce 2026 Nominations: ‘The Young and the Restless’ Leads, ‘Beyond the Gates’ Thrives In Its First Year
by Michael Schneider · VarietyNew CBS soap opera “Beyond the Gates” is off to a good start at the Daytime Emmys. In its first year of eligibility, the sudser scored 15 nominations — second only to CBS’ “The Young and the Restless,” which led all programs with 18 nods this year.
News of the “Young and the Restless” and “Beyond the Gates” hauls come as the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy nominations on Tuesday. That followed up on a handful of early nominees that were announced on Monday night, including recently ended talkers “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (recognized for talk series and talk host) and “Sherri” (with a nod for talk host).
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The Daytime Emmys recognizes daytime dramas, talk series, entertainment news, culinary, adventure, instructional and legal/courtroom programming — and for the 53rd edition, that covers an eligibility calendar of Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2025. This year’s Lifetime Achievement honoree, Gold & Silver Circle inductees, and ceremony host will be announced at a later date.
Formerly held in June, the Daytime Emmys moved to mid-fall last year; the 2026 event is scheduled to take place as a single ceremony on Friday, October 30, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
“We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television,” said NATAS president/CEO Adam Sharp. “As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
“Beyond the Gates” premiered in February 2025 as the first new daytime soap on a major broadcast network since 1999 (“Passions”) and the first daytime soap to center on a primarily Black cast since “Generations.” Besides outstanding daytime drama series (a nom that all four major soaps received), the show’s 15 noms included two in lead actress (Karla Mosley and Tamara Tunie), two in supporting actor (Timon Kyle Durrett and Mike Manning), one in supprting actress (Trisha Mann-Grant) and two in emerging talent (Ambyr Michelle and Arielle Prepetit).
This year’s Daytime Emmys nominations come after serveral rule changes were announced this spring. Among the modifications: Submissions will now be episode-based, which it calls a “primetime format,” allowing programs to enter multiple submissions for different episodes and potentially receive several nominations.
Additionally, NATAS has opted to determine how many nominations a category will get based on a scale of how may submissions there were, much like what happens at the Primetime Emmys. The default number of nominations in a category are:
10 – 29 submissions: 5 nominations
30 – 59 submissions: 6 nominations
60 – 89 submissions: 7 nominations
90 – 119 submissions: 8 nominations
120 -149 submissions: 9 nominations
150 or more submissions: 10 nomination
If there are fewer than ten submissions in a category, the default number of nominations is 50% of the category’s submissions, rounded up to the nearest whole number. Categories with three or fewer submissions have no nominations, “though the National Awards Committee may proceed with an award based on a standard of excellence if the category is not otherwise merged or eliminated.”
Meanwhile, there’s a new threshold for when you’re eligible for guest actor in a daytime drama (“To be eligible for the guest category, you must be seen in a maximum of 19% of episodes aired/streamed for the first time during calendar year 2025. Otherwise, you must enter in categories eligible only in the Leading, Supporting, or Emerging Talent categories.”).
And the science and nature programming category has been eliminated in Daytime, as programs will now have to submit in Primetime, News & Doc or Children’s & Family, depending on eligibility.
Finally, daytime dramas and non-fiction programs will now enter alongside each other in categories except writing and directing. The categories will be split again if both the daytime drama and daytime non-fiction tracks have at least 10 submissions each.
NATAS Productions is behind the Daytime Emmys. Adam Sharp and Lara Gates are executive producers, and Leon Knoles is back as ceremony director for a fifth straight year. “Each year, the Daytime Emmy Awards celebrate the creativity, passion, and dedication that drive this vibrant community of storytellers,” said Daytime Emmy awards head Rachel Schwartz. “Congratulations to this year’s nominees, whose work continues to entertain, inspire and connect with audiences every day. We look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements in Hollywood this October.”
Here are this year’s nominations:
Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
- “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock [Corday Productions, Inc. | Sony Pictures Television])
- “General Hospital” (ABC)
- “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series
- “3rd Hour of Today” (NBC)
- “The Drew Barrymore Show” (CBS Media Ventures)
- “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “Live with Kelly and Mark” (Disney Entertainment Distribution)
- “Today with Jenna & Friends” (NBC)
- “The View” (ABC)
Outstanding Entertainment News Series
- “Access Hollywood” (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “Entertainment Tonight” (CBS Media Ventures)
- “Extra” (Warner Bros. Television [Telepictures])
Outstanding Culinary Instructional Series
- “Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen” (Outdoor Channel [Intuitive Content])
- “Be My Guest with Ina Garten” (Food Network [Pacific Productions])
- “Delicious Miss Brown” (Food Network [FRANK.])
- “Magnolia Table: At The Farm” (Magnolia Network [Blind Nil])
- “Pati’s Mexican Table” (PBS [Mexican Table LLC | Early Light Media])
Outstanding Culinary Cultural Series
- “America The Bountiful” (PBS [Credo Nonfiction])
- “Best Ever Food Review Show” (Best Ever Food Review Show on YouTube)
- “Fork & Hammer” (American Public Television [Susie Films])
- “Lucky Chow” (PBS [Lucky Rice])
- “Savor The City” (TV-One [Powerhouse Productions])
Outstanding Legal / Courtroom Series
- “Caught in Providence” (Debmar-Mercury)
- “Divorce Court” (Fox)
- “Justice For The People with Judge Milian” (Entertainment Studios)
- “Mathis Court with Judge Mathis” (Entertainment Studios)
Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program
- “Expedition Unknown” (Discovery Channel [Ping Pong Productions])
- “Long Way Home” (Apple [Long Way Productions])
- “The Lovely Lemurs of Madagascar” (Pets.TV [Allen Media Group])
- “Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross” (Roku [Joy Mill Entertainment | Story Syndicate | Artists First])
- “Superskilled with Eva zu Beck” (National Geographic)
Outstanding Instructional / How-To Program
- “Ask This Old House” (PBS | Roku [This Old House Productions])
- “Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House” (Magnolia Network [Blind Nil])
- “Home Town Takeover” (HGTV [RTR Media Inc.])
- “The Last Wright: Building the Final Home Design of America’s Greatest Architect” (Magnolia Network [One Traveler | All 3 Media | A | Miziker Entertainment])
- “This Old House” (PBS | Roku [This Old House Productions])
Outstanding Lifestyle Program
- “A Different Breed” (InkBlot Narratives [Purina Films])
- “George to the Rescue” (NBC)
- “With Love, Meghan” (Netflix [Sony Pictures Television | Archewell Productions])
- “The Motherhood” (Hallmark Channel | Hallmark+ [Scout Productions | Deep Blue Productions])
- “The Wizard of Paws” (BYUtv [Nomadica Films | The Dodo | Vox Media Studios])
Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program
- “Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood” (CBS Media Ventures)
- “Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter” (The Hollywood Reporter [IFC])
- “Variety & CNN Actors on Actors” (CNN Digital | Variety)
- “Variety Studio: Actors on Actors” (PBS)
- “Working in the Theatre” (AmericanTheatreWing.org)
Outstanding Daytime Special
- “Critics Choice 2nd Annual Celebration of LBGTQ+ Cinema & Television” (Here TV)
- “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” (ABC [Disney Yellow Shoes Studios | Film 45 | EverWonder Studio])
- “Living Proof” (Hulu [The DIVA Foundation | Shivelight LLC | Zables & Associates])
- “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (NBC | Peacock [Done & Dusted])
- “Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children with Autism” (Hulu [NY27 Productions | Shivelight LLC | Zables & Associates])
Outstanding Daytime Short Form Program
- “Catalyst” (LinkedIn News)
- “Glam Through The Ages” (KeyTV Network)
- “Most-Ordered” (Eater)
- “The Path with Ryan Roslansky” (LinkedIn News)
- “Stand Up and Do Something with Michael Jr.” (BYUtv [Monument Pictures])
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
- Stacy Haiduk as Kristen DiMera, “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock [Corday Productions, Inc. | Sony Pictures Television])
- Karla Mosley as Dani Dupree, “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- Michelle Stafford as Phyllis Summers, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
- Heather Tom as Katie Logan, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS [Bell-Phillip TV Productions, Inc.])
- Tamara Tunie as Anita Williams Dupree, “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
- Eric Braeden as Victor Newman, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
- Steve Burton as Jason Morgan, “General Hospital” (ABC)
- Scott Clifton as Liam Spencer, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS [Bell-Phillip TV Productions, Inc.])
- Thorsten Kaye as Ridge Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS [Bell-Phillip TV Productions, Inc.])
- Christian Jules LeBlanc as Michael Baldwin, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
- Linsey Godfrey as Sarah Horton, “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock [Corday Productions, Inc. | Sony Pictures Television])
- Camryn Grimes as Mariah Copeland, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
- Beth Maitland as Traci Abbott, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
- Trisha Mann-Grant as Leslie Thomas, “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- Amanda Setton as Brook Lynn Quartermaine, “General Hospital” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
- Sean Dominic as Nate Hastings, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
- Timon Kyle Durrett as Bill Hamilton, “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- Michael Graziadei as Daniel Romalotti, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
- Roger Howarth as Matt Clark, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
- Mike Manning as Bradley “Smitty” Smith, “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- Lawrence Saint-Victor as Carter Walton, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS [Bell-Phillip TV Productions, Inc.])
Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series
- Braedyn Bruner as Emma Scorpio-Drake, “General Hospital” (ABC)
- Al Calderon as Javier Hernandez, “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock [Corday Productions, Inc. | Sony Pictures Television])
- Alice Halsey as Rachel Black, “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock [Corday Productions, Inc. | Sony Pictures Television])
- Giovanni Mazza as Gio Palmieri, “General Hospital” (ABC)
- Ambyr Michelle as Eva Thomas, “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- Arielle Prepetit as Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne, “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
- Jasmine Burke as June Hughes, “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- Jeff Kober as Cyrus Renault, “General Hospital” (ABC)
- Eva LaRue as Natalia Rogers-Ramirez, “General Hospital” (ABC)
- Christopher Sean as Paul Narita, “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock [Corday Productions, Inc. | Sony Pictures Television])
- Ray Wise as Ian Ward, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host
- Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin & Ana Navarro, “The View” (ABC)
- Kelly Clarkson, “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- Tamron Hall, “Tamron Hall” (Disney Entertainment Distribution)
- Jennifer Hudson, “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Warner Bros. Television [Telepictures])
- Sherri Shepherd, “Sherri” (Debmar-Mercury)
Outstanding Culinary Host
- Kardea Brown, “Delicious Miss Brown” (Food Network [FRANK.])
- Danielle Chang, “Lucky Chow” (PBS [Lucky Rice])
- Ina Garten, “Be My Guest with Ina Garten” (Food Network [Pacific Productions])
- Pati Jinich, “Pati’s Mexican Table” (PBS [Mexican Table LLC | Early Light Media])
- Andrew Zimmern, “Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen” (Outdoor Channel [Intuitive Content])
Outstanding Daytime Personality – Daily
- Mona Kosar Abdi, Derek Hough & Terri Seymour, “Extra” (Warner Bros. Television [Telepictures])
- Cassie DiLaura, Denny Directo, Kevin Frazier, Rachel Smith & Nischelle Turner, “Entertainment Tonight” (CBS Media Ventures)
- Scott Evans, Zuri Hall, Kit Hoover & Mario Lopez, “Access Hollywood” (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- Star Jones & Corey Jovan, “Divorce Court” (Fox)
Outstanding Daytime Personality – Non-Daily
- Eva zu Beck, “Superskilled with Eva zu Beck” (National Geographic)
- Joy Behar, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin & Ana Navarro, “The Weekend View” (ABC News Live)
- Derrick Campana, “The Wizard of Paws” (BYUtv [Nomadica Films | The Dodo | Vox Media Studios])
- Giada De Laurentiis, “Giada in My Kitchen” (Prime Video [Butternut])
- Keke Palmer, “Glam Through The Ages” (KeyTV Network)
- Joseph Rosendo, “Joseph Rosendo’s Steppin’ Out” (PBS [Joseph Rosendo Presents])
Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
- “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS [Bell-Phillip TV Productions, Inc.])
- “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock [Corday Productions, Inc. | Sony Pictures Television])
- “General Hospital” (ABC)
Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Non-Fiction Series
- “Ask This Old House”: Thank You Roger Cook (PBS | Roku [This Old House Productions])
- “Expedition Unknown”: Searching for World War II’s Lost Hero (Discovery Channel [Ping Pong Productions])
- “Joseph Rosendo’s Steppin’ Out”: Cuba (PBS [Joseph Rosendo Presents])
- “Lucky Chow”: Made in Taiwan (PBS [Lucky Rice])
- “This Old House”: Asheville Rebuilds (PBS | Roku [This Old House Productions])
Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
- “Days of Our Lives” (Peacock [Corday Productions, Inc. | Sony Pictures Television])
- “General Hospital” (ABC)
- “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
Outstanding Directing for a Daytime Non-Studio Non-Fiction Series
- “A Different Breed”: The Season Begins (InkBlot Narratives [Purina Films])
- “Let Frankie Cook”: Pasta From Scratch (Tastemade [Linguine Pictures])
- “Samantha Brown’s Places To Love”: Crystal Coast of North Carolina (PBS [Samantha Brown Media])
- “Superskilled with Eva zu Beck”: How I Survived a Trek Through the Desert Alone (National Geographic)
- “The Wizard of Paws”: Buster’s New Kicks (BYUtv [Nomadica Films | The Dodo | Vox Media Studios])
Outstanding Directing for a Daytime Studio Non-Fiction Series
- “Craft Roundtables”: Editors (IndieWire.com)
- “The Drew Barrymore Show”: Episode 5127 (CBS Media Ventures)
- “Entertainment Tonight”: Episode 45.7 (CBS)
- “The Kelly Clarkson Show”: Episode 5033 (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “Today with Jenna & Friends”: Hoda-Bration (NBC)
Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Daytime Program
- “Beyond the Gates”: Episode 103 (CBS)
- “Have Guitar Will Travel World”: The Shetland Sound (PBS [Have Guitar Will Travel World, LLC])
- “The Kelly Clarkson Show”: Episode 5033 (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “Let Frankie Cook”: Getting the Band Back Together (Tastemade [Linguine Pictures])
- “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (NBC | Peacock [Done & Dusted])
Outstanding Technical Direction and Video for a Daytime Program
- “Beyond the Gates”: Episode 104 (CBS)
- “The Bold and the Beautiful”: Episode 9511 (CBS [Bell-Phillip TV Productions, Inc.])
- “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” (ABC [Disney Yellow Shoes Studios | Film 45 | EverWonder Studio])
- “The Jennifer Hudson Show”: Episode 4041 (Warner Bros. Television [Telepictures])
- “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (NBC | Peacock [Done & Dusted])
Outstanding Cinematography or Camerawork for a Daytime Program
- “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” (ABC [Disney Yellow Shoes Studios | Film 45 | EverWonder Studio])
- “France Made with Love” (PBS [Symbio Studios])
- “General Hospital”: Episode 15719 (ABC)
- “Long Way Home”: Lost in Lapland (Apple [Long Way Productions])
- “Superskilled with Eva zu Beck”: They Climb in Skirts… I Tried to Keep Up (National Geographic)
- “TrueSouth”: Ocean Springs, MS (ESPN | ABC | SEC Network [Bluefoot Entertainment])
Outstanding Editing for a Daytime Non-Studio Program
- “A Different Breed”: The Season Begins (InkBlot Narratives [Purina Films])
- “Expedition Unknown”: Great Pyramid Secrets Revealed (Discovery Channel [Ping Pong Productions])
- “King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch”: Ken-ichiwa! (Netflix [Spoke Studios | Omaha Productions | Full Day Productions])
- “Long Way Home”: Deep in the Forest (Apple [Long Way Productions])
- “The Wizard of Paws”: Buster’s New Kicks (BYUtv [Nomadica Films | Vox Media Studios | The Dodo])
Outstanding Editing for a Daytime Studio Program
- “Craft Roundtables”: Editors (IndieWire.com)
- “The Drew Barrymore Show”: Episode 5137 (CBS Media Ventures)
- “Extra”: Extra at the Emmys (Warner Bros. Television Group [Telepictures])
- “The Kelly Clarkson Show”: Episode 5033 (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Prerecorded Daytime Program
- “Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi”: Wild Atlantic Way North, Ireland (PBS [Sauce & Liver Productions, LLC])
- “Dream of Europe”: London Part 1 with Abbey Road Studios (PBS [Dream of Italy Productions, LLC])
- “Expedition Unknown”: The Man-Eating Lions of Kenya (Discovery Channel [Ping Pong Productions])
- “Forever Young with Dr. Pablo Prichard”: Wheel Of Age (NBC [Hearst Media Production Group | Agency X])
- “Long Way Home”: Lost in Lapland (Apple [Long Way Productions])
Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Live Daytime Program
- “The Bold and the Beautiful”: Episode 9658 (CBS [Bell-Phillip TV Productions, Inc.])
- “The Jennifer Hudson Show”: Episode 4039 (Warner Bros. Television [Telepictures])
- “The Kelly Clarkson Show”: Episode 5007 (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (NBC | Peacock [Done & Dusted])
- “The Young and the Restless”: Episode 13260 (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Daytime Program
- “Beyond the Gates”: Episode 104 (CBS)
- “General Hospital”: Episode 15624 (ABC)
- “The Jennifer Hudson Show”: Episode 4010 (Warner Bros. Television [Telepictures])
- “The Kelly Clarkson Show”: Episode 6169 (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (NBC | Peacock [Done & Dusted])
Outstanding Art Direction / Set Decoration / Scenic Design for a Daytime Program
- “The Kelly Clarkson Show”: Episode 5033 (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “Live with Kelly and Mark”: Episode 250414 (Disney Entertainment Distribution)
- “The View”: Episode 6280 (ABC)
- “The Young and the Restless”: Episode 13145 (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
- “The Young and the Restless”: Episode 13244 (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
Outstanding Costume Design / Styling for a Daytime Program
- “The Jennifer Hudson Show”: Episode 4140 (Warner Bros. Television [Telepictures])
- “The Kelly Clarkson Show”: Episode 5033 (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” (NBC | Peacock [Done & Dusted])
- “The Young and the Restless”: Episode 5033 (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
- “The Young and the Restless”: Episode 13273 (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup for a Daytime Program
- “Beyond the Gates”: Episode 103 (CBS)
- “General Hospital”: Episode 15719 (ABC)
- “The Kelly Clarkson Show”: Episode 5033 (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “The Young and the Restless”: Episode 13273 (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
Outstanding Casting for a Daytime Program
- “Beyond the Gates” (CBS)
- “General Hospital” (ABC)
- “The Young and the Restless” (CBS [Sony Pictures Television])
Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design for a Daytime Program
- “The Drew Barrymore Show” (CBS Media Ventures)
- “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
- “Tamron Hall” (Disney Entertainment Distribution)
And here is the tally from shows that received multiple nominations:
“Today with Jenna & Friends” — 2
“The Young and the Restless” — 18
“Beyond the Gates” — 15
“General Hospital” — 13
“The Kelly Clarkson Show” — 11
“Days of Our Lives” — 8
“The Bold and the Beautiful” — 7
“Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” — 6
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” — 5
“The Drew Barrymore Show” — 4
“Expedition Unknown” — 4
“Long Way Home” — 4
“Superskilled with Eva zu Beck” — 4
“The Wizard of Paws” — 4
“A Different Breed” — 3
“Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” — 3
“Entertainment Tonight” — 3
“Extra” — 3
“Lucky Chow” — 3
“The View” — 3
“Access Hollywood” — 2
“Actors on Actors” — 2
“Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen” — 2
“Ask This Old House” — 2
“Be My Guest with Ina Garten” — 2
“Craft Roundtables” — 2
“Delicious Miss Brown” — 2
“Divorce Court — 2
“Glam Through The Ages” — 2
“Joseph Rosendo’s Steppin’ Out” — 2
“Let Frankie Cook” — 2
“Live with Kelly and Mark” — 2
“Pati’s Mexican Table” — 2
“Tamron Hall” — 2
“This Old House” — 2