LOS ANGELES — The medical drama "The Pitt" has received 25 nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards, leading the field of contenders for the upcoming ceremony. The event is scheduled for September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Hacks received 24 nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards. Widow's Bay received 19 nominations. Pluribus received 18 nominations.

Season 2 of Beef received 16 nominations. DTF St. Louis received 13 nominations. Rhea Seehorn is nominated for best actress in a drama for her role in Pluribus. The series follows emergency department staff navigating a single 12-hour shift during staff shortages and underfunding, with each episode depicting approximately one hour of the shift in real time. Each season consists of 15 episodes set in a fictional trauma center in Pittsburgh.

Noah Wyle plays the lead character Dr. Michael Robinavitch in the series and also serves as an executive producer and writer. He previously appeared in the medical drama "ER," where he portrayed Dr. John Carter from 1994 to 2005, earning four Primetime Emmy Awards for that role. The Pitt was created by R. Scott Gemmill and executive produced by John Wells and Noah Wyle, marking their second collaboration after working together on ER from 1994 to 2009. The writing team for "The Pitt" includes qualified doctors, and actors underwent medical training including CPR practice and training on dummies.

Gerran Howell is nominated for an outstanding supporting actor award at the Emmys for his role in "The Pitt." Howell was born and raised in South Wales. "I have such a newfound respect for the medical profession. It's maybe made me realise that I don't know how I would do this. I will stick to acting," Howell said.

Dr. Tony Cirillo, President of the American College of Emergency Physicians, noted the response from healthcare workers to the show. "We finally feel validated for everything we go through every day," Cirillo said. He added that the reaction differs from typical celebrity encounters. "People came up to him and, as opposed to actors and athletes where they say they are amazing or love their work, people just said thank you to him," Cirillo said.

Medical professionals across different regions have commented on the show's accuracy. Dr. Fiona Hunter, vice president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in Scotland, described her viewing habits. "I wouldn't do it straight after a shift. We all need to decompress and debrief what we have experienced. But in between shifts, when I have got downtime, it's watchable, relatable. It makes me feel other people might get it," Hunter said.

Dr. Rob Perry, a consultant in North Wales, offered a similar perspective. "I think it is reassuring when you see people portraying doctors and nurses in a similar job to your own and, though its not in the UK, they are doing their level best to give the best care they can," Perry said.

Prof. Damian Roland, a practising emergency medicine consultant, discussed systemic issues depicted in the series. "Virtually every emergency department in the world at the moment has not enough space to see patients," Roland said. He pointed to specific narrative elements that mirror real-world challenges.

"It's a very common theme in The Pitt about the central character arguing with hospital management saying 'I need more flow, you can't just leave these patients here' – that's a very common problem," Roland said. Sarah Tosh, a senior NHS nurse and the series medical adviser for "The Pitt," emphasized the collaborative nature of the production. "In my work in the NHS, its very much we all work for one another and I like that we represent that on the show. In The Pitt they've got a bit about the characters' day-to-day life, but it's more about their medicine, which patient they are doing and what they are going on to next, Tosh said."

Why It Matters

The 25 nominations for "The Pitt" represent a significant recognition of a medical drama that prioritizes procedural realism and the daily pressures faced by emergency staff. The series has resonated with healthcare professionals globally, who cite the show's depiction of resource limitations and patient flow issues as accurate reflections of their experiences. This alignment between fictional portrayal and professional reality has generated a sense of validation among medical workers, distinguishing the series from other entries in the genre.

The 78th Emmy Awards ceremony will take place at the Peacock Theater, a music and theatre venue in downtown Los Angeles at L.A. Live that seats 7,100 and holds one of the largest indoor stages in the United States. Mariska Hargitay is hosting the event, which will be broadcast live on NBC and streamed on Peacock starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. The ceremony will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and the 50th anniversary of "Charlie's Angels," with cast members from both series serving as presenters.

Timeline

On September 15, 2025, "The Pitt" won best drama, best actor for Noah Wyle, and best supporting actress for Katherine LaNasa at the previous year's Emmy Awards. On September 14, 2026, Season 2 of Beef received 16 nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards. Also on September 14, 2026, the 78th Emmy Awards ceremony is scheduled for September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Cast members from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and "Charlie's Angels" are among the presenters at the 78th Emmy Awards. Mariska Hargitay is hosting the 78th Emmy Awards. The Emmy Awards ceremony will be broadcast live on NBC and streamed on Peacock starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. The ceremony will celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and the 50th anniversary of "Charlie's Angels."

What's New

Widow’s Bay received 19 nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards. Pluribus received 18 nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards. DTF St. Louis received 13 nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards.