Home / Arts and Entertainment / Emmy Noms Plummet for Actors of Color in 2026
Emmy Noms Plummet for Actors of Color in 2026
8 Jul
Summary
- Actors of color nominated decreased significantly in 2026.
- Several acting categories were filled entirely with white performers.
- Notable historic nominations were made despite overall decline.
The 2026 Emmy nominations revealed a significant downturn in representation for actors of color, with only 18 nominees from Asian, Black, and Latino communities, a decrease from 24 the previous year. This decline is particularly stark as several acting categories featured exclusively white performers.
Despite the overall dip, historic milestones were reached. Sepideh Moafi became the first woman of Iranian descent nominated in dramatic acting categories. British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed received a lead actor nomination for a limited series, continuing his Emmy history.
LGBTQ+ representation also faced setbacks, with some categories lacking openly queer nominees. However, actors like Colman Domingo and actresses from "Hacks" continued to support queer visibility. The series "Beef" also drove Korean representation with multiple nominations across categories.
