Daytime Emmy Awards 2026

[Daniel Avery]

Since the Emmys are not being broadcast on any of the networks (only on an Emmys website and YT), finding out who wins what will be a bit more of a challenge. But here goes....(I'll keep updating as the ceremony progresses)

Lifetime Achievement Award
Genie Francis

Outstanding Supporting Actress for a Daytime Drama
Beth Maitland
(Traci Abbott on Y&R)

Outstanding Supporting Actor for a Daytime Drama
Roger Howarth
(Matt Clark, Y&R)

Outstanding Emerging Talent for a Daytime Drama
Ambyr Michelle
(Eva Thomas, BTG)

Outstanding Guest Performance for a Daytime Drama
Jeff Kober
(Cyrus Renault on GH)

Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama
General Hospital

Outstanding Directing for a Daytime Drama
Days Of Our Lives

Outstanding Lead Actress for a Daytime Drama
Tamara Tunie
(Anita Dupree on BTG)

Outstanding Lead Actor for a Daytime Drama
Scott Clifton
(Liam Spencer, B&B)

Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
General Hospital

 

[Daniel Avery]

Notes:
No network = no commercials. Sounds good, but it makes for a very boring slog. And no scheduled potty breaks!
Mixing the main categories with the technical awards also makes it kind of tough to keep focused.
There's no host. They have an off-camera announcer who sounds like one of those flippant internet influencers. He is really, really annoying.
The winners seem to all be seated at the back of the room, so while they make it to the stage, they are airing awkward clips of the shows with no microphones to amplify the applause. There's also no music to "play them onstage" or "play them offstage," which makes this feel really slipshod/cheap.
A Martinez mentioned Jill Farren Phelps and attempted to get the audience to applaud her. Someone should have tossed their dessert at him.
They welcome new presenters onstage before the previous winners have cleared off, forcing the new person(s) to fight their way through to the front!
After the In Memoriam segment, they did air one commercial (for wine). Which is appropriate, as this is driving me to drink.
I'm seeing a LOT of really bad dresses. I mean, really bad. I'm having trouble picking out anything I'd call "okay", much less "pretty".
Around two hours in they decided to tell the winners to speed up their speeches, which was unfair to them since the winners in the first two hours went on and on. Even the smarmy announcer seemed eager for it to end. Finally I realized he reminds me of "Jamie," one of the Progressive Insurance characters in those annoying commercials.
Three hours!!

 

[Monzo]

I’m glad that newcomer BTG didn’t sweep everything (especially since, in my view, the soap isn’t as good as it’s made out to be). Maybe I was most surprised by Ambyr Michelle’s win; I don’t think she’s any better than the other nominees in her category.

Just yesterday, while watching Y&R, I thought to myself that Roger Howarth’s performance should serve as a blueprint for any actor tasked with playing a psycho in daytime for the first time. I’m not enjoying his ride on Y&R at all—and I hope he’s written out soon—but in terms of pure acting, he’s at the top of his game.

Once again, it has become clear that Scott Clifton should not be underestimated—not even Steve Burton, in his role as Jason mourning for Monica, can stop him.

As for the reactions to the wins, it seems the daytime fan base is most delighted by Beth Maitland’s win, and I can certainly understand why. She’s just so incredibly good at making you feel Traci's pain whenever her heart gets broken yet again.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Notes:
No network = no commercials. Sounds good, but it makes for a very boring slog. And no scheduled potty breaks!
Mixing the main categories with the technical awards also makes it kind of tough to keep focused.
There's no host. They have an off-camera announcer who sounds like one of those flippant internet influencers. He is really, really annoying.
The winners seem to all be seated at the back of the room, so while they make it to the stage, they are airing awkward clips of the shows with no microphones to amplify the applause. There's also no music to "play them onstage" or "play them offstage," which makes this feel really slipshod/cheap.
A Martinez mentioned Jill Farren Phelps and attempted to get the audience to applaud her. Someone should have tossed their dessert at him.
They welcome new presenters onstage before the previous winners have cleared off, forcing the new person(s) to fight their way through to the front!
After the In Memoriam segment, they did air one commercial (for wine). Which is appropriate, as this is driving me to drink.
I'm seeing a LOT of really bad dresses. I mean, really bad. I'm having trouble picking out anything I'd call "okay", much less "pretty".
Around two hours in they decided to tell the winners to speed up their speeches, which was unfair to them since the winners in the first two hours went on and on. Even the smarmy announcer seemed eager for it to end. Finally I realized he reminds me of "Jamie," one of the Progressive Insurance characters in those annoying commercials.
Three hours!!

Thank you for your Trojan work in bringing us these updates because sitting through that ceremony sounds like a slog.