Daytime Emmys announce 2026 nominations for talk shows and soaps
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has begun unveiling nominees for the 53rd Daytime Emmy Awards as the daytime emmys announce 2026 honors across talk, drama and lifestyle programming. Early nods include recently ended talkers The Kelly Clarkson Show and Sherri, plus soap stars from CBS and ABC daytime dramas.
Key Takeaways
- NATAS is rolling out 2026 Daytime Emmy nominations in stages, with four categories revealed Monday on Extra and Entertainment Tonight.
- The Kelly Clarkson Show earned nominations for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series and host Kelly Clarkson; Sherri Shepherd was nominated for talk host.
- Soap lead acting nominees include Eric Braeden, Steve Burton and stars from Beyond the Gates and The Bold and the Beautiful.
- The 53rd ceremony moves to a single fall event on Friday, October 30, 2026, in Los Angeles.
- Spring rule changes introduced episode-based submissions and flexible nomination counts by category size.
What happened when the Daytime Emmys announce 2026 nominations?
The 53rd annual Daytime Emmy nominations announcement is underway, according to Variety. The New York-based National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences began revealing honorees on Monday night, starting with four categories during broadcasts of entertainment news magazines Extra and Entertainment Tonight.
Among the first names out: recently ended talkers The Kelly Clarkson Show, recognized for talk series and talk host, and Sherri, which earned a nod for host Sherri Shepherd. More nominees are expected Tuesday morning as NATAS continues the rollout.
Which talk shows and hosts were nominated first?
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series nominees are 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) and The View (ABC).
In Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host, Kelly Clarkson, Sherri Shepherd, Tamron Hall, Jennifer Hudson and the panel of Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro from The View are in the running.
Who leads the daytime drama acting nominations?
Lead actress nominees include Stacy Haiduk (Days of Our Lives), Karla Mosley and Tamara Tunie (Beyond the Gates), Michelle Stafford (The Young and the Restless) and Heather Tom (The Bold and the Beautiful). Lead actor nominees are Eric Braeden and Christian Jules LeBlanc (The Young and the Restless), Steve Burton (General Hospital), and Scott Clifton and Thorsten Kaye (The Bold and the Beautiful).
The honors spotlight performers from legacy soaps that remain pillars of daytime television even as syndicated talk formats face contraction. For more awards-season updates, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
When and where are the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards?
Formerly held in June, the Daytime Emmys moved to mid-fall last year. The 2026 event is scheduled as a single ceremony on Friday, October 30, in Los Angeles. NATAS Productions produces the show, with Adam Sharp and Lara Gates as executive producers and Leon Knoles returning as ceremony director.
Lifetime Achievement honorees, Gold & Silver Circle inductees and the ceremony host will be announced later. NATAS president Adam Sharp said the academy remains committed to recognizing innovation as the daytime landscape evolves.
What rule changes shaped this year's nominations?
Daytime Emmys nominations follow several spring rule changes. Submissions are now episode-based in a primetime-style format, allowing multiple entries per program. NATAS also scales nomination slots by submission volume, with categories receiving five to ten nominees depending on how many programs enter.
Additional updates include a revised guest-actor eligibility threshold for daytime dramas and the elimination of the science and nature category from Daytime, with those programs shifting to Primetime, News & Documentary or Children's & Family awards as eligible.