The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has unveiled the full roster of nominees for the 2026 International Emmy Awards. A total of 64 entries compete in 16 categories, representing 22 different countries. The ceremony will be staged in Manhattan on Monday, November 23, as part of the International Emmy World Television Festival that runs from November 20-22.
President and CEO Bruce L. Paisner praised the breadth of submissions, noting that this year’s line-up is “as competitive as ever” and showcases an “outstanding range of entries from around the world.” The festival will host welcome cocktails, nominee panels and other events that bring together creators from the globe.
Drama and comedy series dominate the spotlight
Three nations – the United Kingdom, Argentina and India – secured nominations in both the marquee Drama Series and Comedy Series categories. The drama race pits the UK’s epic A Thousand Blows against France’s culinary-themed Carême Argentina’s political satire Mehem and India’s sports-driven Real Kashmir Football Club. In comedy, Argentina returns with the second season of División Palermo (Community Squad) while the UK offers the absurdist Man vs. Baby. Spain contributes the witty Old Dog, New Tricks and India’s own Vir Das: Fool Volume rounds out the quartet.
Vir Das’s nomination marks his third International Emmy nod. The comedian previously won the Best Comedy award for his Netflix special Landing in 2023 and earned his first nod in 2021 for For India. Fool Volume filmed across Mumbai, New York and London, reflects his personal journey through silence, self-doubt and rediscovery of joy, making its inclusion a testament to his growing global appeal.
Performance, documentary and factual categories showcase worldwide talent
Acting honors include Spain’s Javier Cámara for Yakarta Argentina’s Ricardo Darín for The Eternaut South Africa’s Ian Roberts in A Kind of Madness and the UK’s Bobby Schofield in Unforgivable. Female performers feature Belgium’s Mona Mina Leon in Holy Sh!t Mexico’s Bárbara Mori in Lucca’s World South Korea’s Park Ji-Hyun in You and Everything Else and the UK’s Sheridan Smith in I Fought the Law.
Documentary nominees range from Louis Theroux’s The Settlers (UK) to Mexico’s investigative film Marcial Maciel: The Wolf of God. Singapore contributes One “Orphan” Every Hour while France offers a two-part look at opioid addiction titled Opioïdes, Business & Addiction. In current-affairs programming, Al Jazeera English presents the Qatar-produced investigation Hasina: 36 Days in July and the UK’s ITV1 backs Exposure: Breaking Ranks about Israel’s war.
Kids programming, news and non-scripted entertainment round out the slate
Children’s animation includes Brazil’s beloved Irmão do Jorel – Season 5 Germany’s farm-focused Lena’s Farm Japan’s whimsical My Melody & Kuromi and the UK’s enchanting The Scarecrows’ Wedding. Live-action and factual series for younger audiences feature Chile’s festive 31 Minutos: Calurosa Navidad and the Philippines’ romance-infused Love at First Spike.
News entries highlight Brazil’s environmental piece Fantástico: Isolated in the Amazon Portugal’s reflective Lembra-te de Mim Qatar’s coverage of the Gaza crisis Missing in Gaza and the UK’s high-stakes The World: 24 Hours in the Kill Zone from Sky News. Non-scripted entertainment sees China’s adventure series Ed Stafford’s Rite of Passage and France’s quirky travel show La Peor Vuelta al Mundo.
Festival partners and ceremony details
The November 23 gala will be supported by an impressive roster of partners, including Ay Yapım, CJ ENM, Dubai Studios, Ernst & Young, Globo, Mediafellows, MIP, Plural, Sofitel New York and Variety. The broader festival benefits from collaborations with Amazon MGM Studios, ARRI, Broadview TV, Film and Media NRW, Frankfurt Kurnit, ORF-Enterprise, S4C, The Walt Disney Company Latin America, Unindustria and Ziegler Film, among others.
All nominees will converge in New York for a three-day celebration that blends industry panels, networking events and screenings. The awards themselves will be presented at the 54th International Emmy Awards Gala, marking another milestone for creators seeking recognition on a truly global stage.
