Why ‘Heated Rivalry’ & ‘Every Year After’ Won’t Get Emmys In 2026

Every year, avid TV fans see the list of Primetime Emmy nominations and wonder, where’s my show? With nominations coming at 8:30am PT on Wednesday, read on to save yourself the shock when your favorite gets left off the list

First up, a major exclusion that’s already gathered serious outrage — Heated Rivalry. Even though the smash hit aired well ahead of voting, it’s counted out because it was fully funded and produced by Canadian outfit Crave (Bell Media). The Academy rules state that a U.S. partner must be intrinsically involved in production. Yes, you might have watched it on HBO Max, but they only acquired U.S. distribution rights once the show was a finished product. So, it’s a no-go

Next, if you’re loving newer shows like Every Year After, Elle, Cape Fearor the latest seasons of House of the Dragonand The Vampire Lestat, prepare yourselves for zip, zilch, zero — they all aired outside of the eligibility window, which closed on May 31

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To qualify for Emmy consideration, a show must air at least six of its episodes before that cut-off date. If its in the limited or anthology series category, it must air all episodes before May 31. For documentary series and hosted nonfiction series, only three episodes are required

Take Paramount+ show Dutton Ranch, which aired its first four episodes before May 31. The entire season will not be eligible until next year. Ditto Apple TV+ Tatiana Maslany-starrer Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed — only three of its episodes were inside the window, so it’s also out of the running this year

Now the plot thickens, because for those shows that are eligible, maybe their most dramatic or clincher finale episodes are not, if they fell outside of that May 31 date. Like Apple TV+’s sleeper hit show Widow’s Bay — the comedy series had six episodes inside the Emmy window, which qualifies it for Emmy consideration, but the last three aired after May 31. Those three are known as ‘hanging episodes’ and cannot be considered this year

Same issue for Bravo’s reality competition show Top Chef. The newest 23rd season of the show qualified for Emmys, but its last two episodes fell outside the eligibility window, so while the show is eligible, those two specific episodes will have to wait for next year

This issue mainly affects the craft/ below-the-line categories, like directing, editing and cinematography, which are evaluated by specific episodes ahead of nominations. Also, if you’re a guest actor that only featured in a hanging episode, then you’re out of luck until next time around. Fortunately, Widow’s Bay doesn’t have anyone in that particular boat (see what I did there?)

When it comes to post-nominations phase 2 voting, where winners are picked from the list of nominees, every nominee, including actors, must be submitted for a specific episode. And those hanging episodes will still be off the table

Then there’s the annual conundrum of FX comedy series The Bear. As with the 2025 Emmys, once again, it aired noneof its newest season inside the eligibility window. Its fifth and final season just hit screens in June. So, voters must think back to Season 4 — the one from almost a year ago. Of course, this schedule likely works in the show’s favor, since the brand new season puts the show fresh in voters’ minds. It’s almost like they did it on purpose…

And if like Jennifer Lopez’s character, you were seduced by Brett Goldstein’s writing and performance in the Netflix film Office Romance, bring on the violins because it premiered the week after the eligibility window closed. That TV film category has been renamed this year by the way — Outstanding Television Movie is now simply Outstanding Movie

Finally, lest we forget some beloved shows that ended last year: The Handmaid’s Tale, Andor, Somebody Somewhere, Poker Face, Squid Game and The Righteous Gemstones are all done and dusted. For now, at least. After all, if The Comeback can make a comeback after 11 years…

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