20 Emmy-Nominated Shows to Watch on DIRECTV Before the 2026 Emmy Awards

Emmy Award season is here, and this year’s nominees are packed with must-watch television. From gripping medical dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies and jaw-dropping reality competitions, the 2026 Emmy nominations celebrate the best in TV — and you can stream nearly all of it on DIRECTV. Whether you’re catching up before the big night or just looking for your next binge, this lineup of nominated series spans every genre, from HBO’s most-talked-about dramas to Apple TV+’s breakout hits.

Want the full rundown of this year’s nominees across every category? Check out our complete 2026 Emmy Nominations guide for the full list. Below, we’ve rounded up 20 Emmy-nominated shows you can watch right now on DIRECTV! So grab the remote and start streaming your way through award season.

Not a DIRECTV customer yet? Don’t miss out!

‘The Pitt’ – HBO

This gripping medical drama throws viewers into the chaos of a single shift inside a busy emergency department, capturing the life-or-death stakes and emotional toll of frontline medicine. With 25 Emmy nominations, it’s the most-nominated program of this year’s awards.

‘Hacks’ – HBO

Jean Smart stars in this razor-sharp comedy about the unlikely partnership between a legendary stand-up comedian and her young comedy writer. The critically acclaimed series earned 24 Emmy nominations, making it one of the year’s biggest awards contenders.

‘The Bear’ – FX

This acclaimed dramedy follows a gifted chef as he returns home to transform his family’s struggling Chicago sandwich shop into a world-class restaurant. A recent Emmy powerhouse, it picked up 8 nominations this year.

‘Abbott Elementary’ – ABC

This heartfelt workplace comedy follows a group of passionate teachers doing everything they can for their students at an underfunded Philadelphia public school. It continues its awards success with 7 Emmy nominations.

‘Fallout’ – Prime Video

Based on the blockbuster video game franchise, this post-apocalyptic adventure blends action, dark humor, and unforgettable characters in a dangerous world centuries after nuclear devastation. The breakout adaptation earned 9 Emmy nominations.

‘Only Murders in the Building’ – Hulu

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez star as three true crime enthusiasts who find themselves solving murders in their own New York apartment building. The fan-favorite mystery-comedy picked up 5 Emmy nominations.

‘Euphoria’ – HBO

Zendaya leads this visually stunning HBO drama exploring addiction, identity, relationships, and growing up in the social media age. The series remains an Emmy favorite with 7 nominations.

‘Saturday Night Live’ – NBC

Television’s legendary sketch comedy series continues to deliver celebrity hosts, unforgettable characters, and timely political satire after five decades on the air. This year it received 11 Emmy nominations.

‘Shrinking’ – Apple TV

Jason Segel and Harrison Ford star in this heartfelt comedy about a grieving therapist whose radical honesty transforms both his patients’ lives and his own. The Apple TV+ hit earned 9 Emmy nominations.

‘The Traitors’ – Peacock

In this addictive reality competition, contestants must uncover hidden traitors before deception and betrayal send them home. The breakout reality sensation received 6 Emmy nominations.

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ – MTV

RuPaul’s iconic competition series showcases extraordinary drag performers competing in fashion, comedy, acting, and lip-sync challenges to become America’s next drag superstar. It continues its awards dominance with 9 Emmy nominations.

‘Slow Horses’ – Apple TV

Gary Oldman stars in this acclaimed spy thriller about a team of disgraced MI5 agents who repeatedly find themselves at the center of Britain’s most dangerous intelligence missions. The Apple TV+ drama earned 9 Emmy nominations.

‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ – HBO

Set decades before Game of Thrones, this fantasy adventure follows the travels of Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, Egg, across the Seven Kingdoms. The highly anticipated new series debuted with 9 Emmy nominations.

‘Welcome to Wrexham’ – FX

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney chronicle their real-life journey of revitalizing a struggling Welsh football club and its close-knit community. The acclaimed docuseries earned multiple Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program.

‘Survivor’ – CBS

The groundbreaking reality competition challenges contestants to outwit, outplay, and outlast one another in pursuit of a $1 million prize. The enduring franchise received 5 Emmy nominations.

‘Pluribus’ – Apple TV

This ambitious sci-fi drama explores a near-future America where technology, politics, and human connection collide in unexpected ways. One of the year’s biggest breakout series, it earned 18 Emmy nominations.

‘Widow’s Bay’ – Apple TV

This atmospheric mystery drama unravels the secrets of a quiet coastal town after a shocking death exposes decades of buried lies. It emerged as one of the year’s biggest surprise awards contenders with 19 Emmy nominations.

‘The Gilded Age’ – HBO

From Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, this lavish period drama explores wealth, ambition, and social upheaval in 1880s New York high society. The HBO series earned 8 Emmy nominations.

‘Spider-Noir’ – Prime Video

Nicolas Cage stars as an aging private investigator in this stylish, noir-inspired take on Spider-Man set against the backdrop of 1930s New York City. The highly anticipated comic book adaptation received 11 Emmy nominations.

‘Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show’ – Disney+

This spectacular concert special captures the final performance of Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour, celebrating one of the biggest live music events in history. It earned 5 Emmy nominations.