Apple scores record 89 Emmy nominations led by Widow's Bay
Apple TV landed a record 89 Emmy Award nominations for the 78th Primetime Emmys, with Massachusetts-shot horror-comedy Widow's Bay earning 19 nods. The tally underscores momentum behind the Apple Widow's Bay renewal and Apple's awards-season rise, even as HBO Max and Netflix still led overall platform counts.
Nominations were announced by the Television Academy on July 8, 2026. Winners will be revealed at a ceremony on September 14. For more awards-season coverage, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Key Takeaways
- Apple scored 89 total nominations across 15 programs, a company record for the Primetime Emmys.
- Widow's Bay led Apple's slate with 19 nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series.
- Freshman drama Pluribus followed with 18 nods; Apple also led comedy and drama series-category nominations.
- Hacks set a new comedy-series record with 24 nominations, per the Boston Globe.
- Apple renewed Widow's Bay for season two ahead of the Emmy surge; Matt Cherniss says the comedy label fits.
Why did Apple TV break its Emmy nomination record?
According to Apple's newsroom, the streamer earned 89 nominations across 15 programs for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. That arrives a year after The Studio became the most-winning freshman comedy in Emmy history and Severance led as the year's most-winning drama.
Apple TV head of programming Matt Cherniss told The Hollywood Reporter that the platform collected 87 television nominations this cycle, up from 81 last year, despite an Emmys season without returning heavyweights like The Studio or Ted Lasso. He credited two newcomers: Widow's Bay and Vince Gilligan's Pluribus.
How many Emmy nominations did Widow's Bay receive?
Widow's Bay earned 19 nominations, making it one of the year's most-nominated programs and the strongest showing for any new series, according to Apple and The Hollywood Reporter. Nods include Outstanding Comedy Series, lead actor Matthew Rhys, creator Katie Dippold for writing, director Hiro Murai, and multiple supporting and guest performances.
The Boston Globe noted the show was filmed in Massachusetts. Cherniss submitted it as a dark comedy rather than drama, so it does not compete directly against Apple's 18-nomination drama Pluribus. He argued the label fits because the show makes viewers laugh even when it scares them.
What does the Apple Widow's Bay renewal signal for season two?
Apple renewed the Matthew Rhys-led series for a second season in June 2026, before the Emmy announcement. Cherniss told THR that Widow's Bay is in an accelerating growth phase and hopes nominations will supercharge word of mouth.
Production realities may slow the timetable. Cherniss has noted that filming in Massachusetts is not always easy, which can affect turnaround. The Hollywood Reporter also reported that the season one finale's last three episodes aired outside the 2026 eligibility window, making the nomination haul even more notable.
Which other Apple TV shows earned Emmy nods?
Beyond Widow's Bay and Pluribus, Apple spread nominations across its slate. Shrinking collected 10, Slow Horses nine, and Margo's Got Money Troubles eight. Your Friends & Neighbors earned its first Outstanding Drama Series nomination.
Apple said it led all networks in nominations within both the Outstanding Drama and Outstanding Comedy series fields. Industry totals still placed HBO Max and Netflix ahead on overall platform counts, while Hacks set a comedy record with 24 nominations.