The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards are set to make television history with an unprecedented lineup of exceptional shows competing for the industry’s most prestigious honors. This year’s ceremony promises to showcase the incredible diversity and quality of modern television, with streaming platforms and traditional networks delivering groundbreaking content across all genres.
From workplace comedies to psychological thrillers, from reality competitions to limited series masterpieces, the 2025 Emmy nominations reflect a golden age of television that continues to push creative boundaries and captivate audiences worldwide.
Emmy Awards 2025: Key Details
Event Information
- Date: Sunday, September 14, 2025
- Time: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
- Venue: Peacock Theater, Los Angeles
- Host: Nate Bargatze (stand-up comedian)
- Broadcast: M-Net live at 02:00 Monday, September 15 (repeat at 21:00)
Creative Arts Emmy Awards
The Creative Arts categories will be presented the week before the main ceremony and will not be televised as part of the main broadcast.
Top Contenders: Shows Leading the Emmy Race
Most Nominated Shows
Severance leads the pack with an impressive 27 nominations, showcasing the psychological workplace thriller’s critical acclaim and technical excellence.
The Penguin follows closely with 24 nominations, proving that superhero content continues to dominate the television landscape.
Two shows are tied with 23 nominations each:
- The Studio – Seth Rogen’s comedy about Hollywood’s inner workings
- The White Lotus – The acclaimed anthology series continues its award-winning streak
Other Notable Contenders
- The Last of Us: 16 nominations
- Andor and Hacks: 14 nominations each
- Adolescence, The Bear, and The Pitt: 13 nominations each
Major Category Breakdowns
Outstanding Drama Series Nominees
The drama category features an exceptional mix of established hits and breakthrough series:
- Andor – The Star Wars universe’s acclaimed prequel series
- The Diplomat – Political thriller starring Keri Russell
- The Last of Us – Post-apocalyptic masterpiece adaptation
- Paradise – Sterling K. Brown’s compelling drama
- The Pitt – Medical drama featuring Noah Wyle
- Severance – Mind-bending workplace psychological thriller
- Slow Horses – British spy thriller with Gary Oldman
- The White Lotus – HBO’s dark comedy anthology series
Outstanding Comedy Series Nominees
The comedy landscape showcases both workplace humor and relationship-driven narratives:
- Abbott Elementary – Quinta Brunson’s mockumentary school comedy
- The Bear – Kitchen-based dramedy continuing its winning streak
- Hacks – Generational comedy about stand-up comedy
- Nobody Wants This – Romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell
- Only Murders in the Building – Murder mystery comedy with Steve Martin
- Shrinking – Jason Segel’s therapy-focused comedy-drama
- The Studio – Seth Rogen’s Hollywood insider comedy
- What We Do in the Shadows – Vampire mockumentary’s final season
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
- Adolescence – Coming-of-age British drama
- Black Mirror – Charlie Brooker’s dystopian anthology continues
- Dying for Sex – Dark comedy exploring life and mortality
- Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story – True crime anthology
- The Penguin – Batman universe spinoff starring Colin Farrell
Acting Categories: Star-Studded Nominees
Drama Series Lead Performances
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
- Kathy Bates (Matlock)
- Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters)
- Britt Lower (Severance)
- Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us)
- Keri Russell (The Diplomat)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
- Sterling K. Brown (Paradise)
- Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)
- Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us)
- Adam Scott (Severance)
- Noah Wyle (The Pitt)
Comedy Series Lead Performances
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
- Uzo Aduba (The Residence)
- Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This)
- Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
- Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
- Jean Smart (Hacks)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
- Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This)
- Seth Rogen (The Studio)
- Jason Segel (Shrinking)
- Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)
- Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)
Limited Series Lead Performances
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series:
- Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer)
- Meghann Fahy (Sirens)
- Rashida Jones (Black Mirror: “Common People”)
- Cristin Milioti (The Penguin)
- Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series:
- Colin Farrell (The Penguin)
- Stephen Graham (Adolescence)
- Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent)
- Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief)
- Cooper Koch (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story)
Reality Television Excellence
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
- The Amazing Race – Long-running travel competition
- RuPaul’s Drag Race – Drag performance competition
- Survivor – Endurance reality competition
- Top Chef – Culinary competition series
- The Traitors – Strategic deception game
Reality Programming Recognition
The Emmy Awards continue to recognize excellence in reality television, with categories for both structured and unstructured reality programs, highlighting shows like Love Is Blind, Queer Eye, and Welcome to Wrexham.
Technical and Creative Excellence
Music and Composition
The Emmy Awards recognize outstanding musical contributions across various categories:
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music nominees include:
- Dept. Q – Carlos Rafael Rivera and Scott Frank
- Dune: Prophecy – Volker Bertelmann
- The White Lotus – Cristobal Tapia de Veer
Directing Excellence
Outstanding directing nominations span across genres, recognizing visionary filmmakers who brought exceptional television to life in 2024.
Writing Achievement
The writing categories celebrate the creative minds behind television’s most compelling narratives, from comedy to drama to limited series.
Emmy Awards 2025: What to Expect
Potential Upsets and Surprises
While Severance leads in nominations, the competition remains fierce across all categories. The Studio‘s strong showing in comedy categories positions it as a potential upset against established favorites like The Bear and Only Murders in the Building.
Streaming vs. Traditional Broadcasting
The 2025 Emmy nominations continue to reflect the dominance of streaming platforms, with traditional broadcast networks maintaining competitive presence primarily in reality programming and late-night categories.
Complete Nomination Tallies
Shows with 10+ Nominations
- Severance: 27 nominations
- The Penguin: 24 nominations
- The Studio: 23 nominations
- The White Lotus: 23 nominations
- The Last of Us: 16 nominations
- Andor: 14 nominations
- Hacks: 14 nominations
- Adolescence: 13 nominations
- The Bear: 13 nominations
- The Pitt: 13 nominations
- SNL50: The Anniversary Special: 12 nominations
- Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story: 11 nominations
- Black Mirror: 10 nominations
Mid-Tier Recognition (5-9 Nominations)
Notable shows receiving significant recognition include Dying for Sex (9), The Daily Show (8), RuPaul’s Drag Race (8), and Only Murders in the Building (7).
Conclusion
The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards represent a celebration of television’s continued evolution and excellence. With streaming platforms and traditional networks delivering exceptional content across all genres, viewers can expect a competitive and entertaining awards ceremony.
From Severance‘s psychological complexity to The Studio‘s Hollywood insider comedy, from The Last of Us‘ post-apocalyptic storytelling to The White Lotus‘ dark social commentary, the 2025 Emmy nominees showcase the incredible range and quality of modern television.
Whether you’re rooting for established favorites or hoping for surprising upsets, the 2025 Emmy Awards promise to honor the best of television while highlighting the medium’s continued growth and innovation. Don’t miss the ceremony on September 14, 2025, as television’s biggest night celebrates another year of outstanding entertainment.
Watch the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards live on M-Net at 02:00 Monday, September 15, 2025, with a repeat broadcast at 21:00 the same day.
