Netflix’s gritty limited series Adolescence leads the small-screen pack with six nominations, but heavyweights like Severance, The Pitt, and the rom-com hit Nobody Wants This are right on its heels.

Adam Brody and Kristen Bell in Nobody Wants This

Hosted by Chelsea Handler for the fourth year in a row, the Critics Choice Awards serve as a critical barometer for both the Emmys and the cultural zeitgeist. This year’s television lineup reflects a medium in transition, where high-concept sci-fi like Andor and Alien: Earth sits comfortably alongside intimate, character-driven dramas like The Diplomat. On the comedy front, Netflix’s Nobody Wants This has emerged as a surprise leader, challenging established favorites like Hacks and Abbott Elementary.

The 2026 TV Nominations: Drama & Comedy

Best Drama Series

  • Alien: Earth (FX)
  • Andor (Disney+)
  • The Diplomat (Netflix)
  • Paradise (Hulu)
  • The Pitt (HBO Max)
  • Pluribus (Apple TV)
  • Severance (Apple TV)
  • Task (HBO Max)

Best Actor in a Drama Series

  • Sterling K. Brown – Paradise (Hulu)
  • Diego Luna – Andor (Disney+)
  • Mark Ruffalo – Task (HBO Max)
  • Adam Scott – Severance (Apple TV)
  • Billy Bob Thornton – Landman (Paramount+)
  • Noah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO Max)

Best Actress in a Drama Series

  • Kathy Bates – Matlock (CBS)
  • Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age (HBO Max)
  • Britt Lower – Severance (Apple TV)
  • Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us (HBO Max)
  • Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix)
  • Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus (Apple TV)

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

  • Patrick Ball, The Pitt
  • Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
  • Ato Essandoh, The Diplomat
  • Wood Harris, Forever
  • Tom Pelphrey, Task
  • Tramell Tillman, Severance

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

  • Nicole Beharie, The Morning Show
  • Denée Benton, The Gilded Age
  • Allison Janney, The Diplomat
  • Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
  • Greta Lee, The Morning Show
  • Skye P. Marshall, Matlock

Best Comedy Series

  • Abbott Elementary (ABC)
  • Elsbeth (CBS)
  • Ghosts (CBS)
  • Hacks (HBO Max)
  • Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
  • Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
  • The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
  • The Studio (Apple TV)

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
  • Ted Danson – A Man on the Inside (Netflix)
  • David Alan Grier – St. Denis Medical (NBC)
  • Danny McBride – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
  • Seth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV)
  • Alexander Skarsgård – Murderbot (Apple TV)

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
  • Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face (Peacock)
  • Rose McIver – Ghosts (CBS)
  • Edi Patterson – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)
  • Carrie Preston – Elsbeth (CBS)
  • Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Ike Barinholtz, The Studio
  • Paul W. Downs, Hacks
  • Asher Grodman, Ghosts
  • Oscar Nuñez, The Paper
  • Chris Perfetti, Abbott Elementary
  • Timothy Simons, Nobody Wants This

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Danielle Brooks, Peacemaker
  • Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
  • Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
  • Justine Lupe, Nobody Wants This
  • Ego Nwodim, Saturday Night Live
  • Rebecca Wisocky, Ghosts

Best Limited Series

  • Adolescence (Netflix) — 6 Nominations Total
  • All Her Fault (Peacock)
  • Chief of War (Apple TV)
  • Death by Lightning (Netflix)
  • Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
  • Dope Thief (Apple TV)
  • Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
  • The Girlfriend (Prime Video)

Best Movie Made for Television

  • Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)
  • Deep Cover (Prime Video)
  • The Gorge (Apple TV)
  • Mountainhead (HBO Max)
  • Nonnas (Netflix)
  • Summer of ’69 (Hulu)

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

  • Michael Chernus – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
  • Stephen Graham – Adolescence
  • Brian Tyree Henry – Dope Thief
  • Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
  • Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me
  • Michael Shannon – Death by Lightning

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

  • Jessica Biel – The Better Sister
  • Meghann Fahy – Sirens
  • Sarah Snook – All Her Fault
  • Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex
  • Robin Wright – The Girlfriend
  • Renée Zellweger – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television

  • Owen Cooper, Adolescence
  • Wagner Moura, Dope Thief
  • Nick Offerman, Death by Lightning
  • Michael Peña, All Her Fault
  • Ashley Walters, Adolescence
  • Ramy Youssef, Mountainhead

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television

  • Erin Doherty, Adolescence
  • Betty Gilpin, Death by Lightning
  • Marin Ireland, Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
  • Sophia Lillis, All Her Fault
  • Julianne Moore, Sirens
  • Christine Tremarco, Adolescence

Best Foreign Language Series

  • Acapulco
  • Last Samurai Standing
  • Mussolini: Son of the Century
  • Red Alert
  • Squid Game
  • When No One Sees Us

Best Animated Series

  • Bob’s Burgers
  • Harley Quinn
  • Long Story Short
  • Marvel Zombies
  • South Park
  • Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

Best Talk Show

  • The Daily Show
  • Hot Ones
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live!
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers
  • The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
  • Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Best Variety Series

  • Conan O’Brien Must Go
  • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
  • Saturday Night Live

Best Comedy Special

  • Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life
  • Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian
  • Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things
  • Marc Maron: Panicked
  • Sarah Silverman: PostMortem
  • SNL50: The Anniversary Special