Emmys Shake-Up: Multiple Late-Night Heavyweights Could Take Home Trophies This Year

Late-night TV feuds are officially getting put on ice for the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards. In a historic overhaul of the ceremony's format, the Television Academy has introduced a fresh set of voting mechanics that could result in a rare scenario: every single nominee in the variety category taking home a shiny new trophy. Traditionally, major late-night talk shows and sketch series went head-to-head in strict winner-take-all showdowns. But this year's Broadcast standard is flipping the script, transforming one of the night's most stacked races into a potential victory lap for the entire lineup.

Why can multiple shows win Best Variety Series at the Emmys?

The massive shift comes after the Television Academy decided to merge two distinct honors—Best Scripted Variety Series and Best Talk Series—into one combined category now labeled Best Variety Series. Along with the consolidation, officials converted the race into what is known as an "area award." Under this special classification, nominated programs are no longer battling each other directly for votes. Instead, Academy members evaluate each contender on its own individual merits by answering a simple question: "Does this nominee merit an Emmy?" Any show that manages to capture a "yes" vote from at least 90 percent of the voting pool will automatically receive an Emmy. If no single program clears that steep 90 percent benchmark, the trophy simply goes to whichever nominee secures the highest overall approval rating.

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Who is nominated for Best Variety Series at the 2026 Emmys?

The updated rule sets up an intriguing dynamic for the five critical darlings competing in the category. The powerhouse nominees entering the field include Comedy Central's *The Daily Show*, ABC's *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, HBO's *Last Week Tonight With John Oliver*, CBS's *The Late Show With Stephen Colbert*, and NBC's perennial juggernaut *Saturday Night Live*. Because all five franchises boast long-standing critical acclaim and massive industry support, industry insiders believe several—or even all—of the contenders could easily cross the 90 percent approval threshold. Beyond the late-night celebration, the broadcast is also lining up major musical moments, including singer Noah Kahan taking the stage to deliver a classic track during the emotional 'In Memoriam' tribute segment.