The Black LGBTQ+ 2026 Emmy Nominees We’re Rooting For!

Gayes! The nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards were announced earlier this week, and many of our favorite talents received well-deserved nods across various categories.

Colman Domingo celebrated a major Emmy milestone, earning two nominations this year. He was recognized with a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for the second season of The Four Seasons, as well as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his acclaimed performance in Euphoria Season 3.

Speaking to Deadline about his nominations, Domingo said he was honored to be recognized by his peers, calling it a source of “great joy.”

He continued, saying, “I think the diversity of work is what I’ve always hoped for, to have these opportunities to flex very different muscles.”

In Netflix’s dramedy The Four Seasons, Colman Domingo stars as Danny, one of the show’s central figures, a charismatic, sharp-witted character whose evolving relationships and personal arc serve as a key part of the series.

Speaking about playing Danny, Domingo shared his appreciation for the opportunity to explore the character’s lighter, more playful qualities, saying, “I feel like Danny [in The Four Seasons] lives in the zeitgeist in a very sort of pop culture way. He’s just kind of fun and sharp, and I’m glad I get to flex that.”

His portrayal of Danny stands in stark contrast to his role as Ali on Euphoria. Domingo’s nomination comes for the series finale, “In God We Trust.” In the episode, Ali discovers Rue (Zendaya) after her fatal overdose and sets out to confront Alamo Brown (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), the man who supplied the fentanyl-laced pills that led to her death.

He reflected on filming scenes for the series’ final season, describing the experience as “deeply emotional.” One episode earlier in the season, which explored Ali’s past, also brought up a range of emotions for Domingo, he said.

Reflecting on Ali’s journey in the episode, Domingo said the character’s string of losses causes him to shut down emotionally while pushing him toward a search for purpose, redemption and salvation. “It felt like a real sort of biblical story in many ways. I love leaning into that,” he said.

Domingo added that his work with Zendaya and Sam Levinson on the episode was among the strongest of his career, noting that the storyline challenged him by drawing on emotions that felt both familiar and unfamiliar. “I knew it was going to be a definitive button to the season, so I gave it everything I had,” he said.

Ayo Edebiri has been nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as Sydney Adamu in FX’s acclaimed hit series The Bear.

Edebiri celebrated her nomination via her Instagram Stories, sharing her gratitude with a concise message: “Blessed, blessed, blessed. Grateful, grateful, grateful.”

While The Bear may be coming to an end, Edebiri is booked and busy with several projects on the horizon. Her upcoming work includes the Broadway revival of Proof (March 31–July 19), a reimagining of Mrs. Dalloway, Prodigies, created by Will Sharpe, an untitled feature film with Lionel Boyce, and Barney, a project she wrote.

With his 11th Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program for RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul has extended his own record for the most nominations in the category.

Over the last decade, RuPaul has become one of the most decorated hosts in Primetime Emmy Awards history. Since receiving his first nomination in 2016 for RuPaul’s Drag Race, he has won the award nine times, including a record-setting streak of eight consecutive victories from 2016 through 2023.

Together, RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked earned 11 nominations this year. The franchise received recognition in several major categories, including Outstanding Reality Competition Program, Outstanding Host, Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling, Outstanding Casting, Outstanding Sound Mixing, Outstanding Picture Editing, Outstanding Production Design, Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Choreography, further solidifying its place as one of television’s most celebrated reality competition franchises.

Among this year’s nominees is the multi-talented Christian John-Devi Vincent, whose choreography for last summer’s Noah’s Arc: The Movie earned a nomination in the Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming category.

To celebrate his nomination, an emotional Vincent shared a heartfelt video on Instagram, expressing his gratitude and excitement.

“It means so much to me to be nominated, but it means even more because of this show and what it has meant to the community that has supported it,” he said.

“A huge thank you to all the dancers, all the performers, Rodney Chester, Dynasty, T.S. Madison, Kennedy Davenport, my assistant Danny Swatzi, Alex, our director of photography, and most importantly, Patrik-Ian Polk for having the vision to create a show that has meant so much to so many people. It’s been an incredible source of uplift for the community, and I’m honored to be part of its legacy, contribute to it in another way, and help it receive recognition at the highest level.”

Wanda Sykes earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for her Netflix comedy special, Wanda Sykes: Legacy.

To celebrate, she shared the news on Instagram, writing: “My third @netflix special, Legacy, has received three Emmy nominations. Congratulations to the incomparable @dash_julie—a true pioneer and visionary—on her nomination for Outstanding Directing, and to @editorangelg on the well-deserved nomination for Outstanding Picture Editing. I’m deeply honored to be nominated for Outstanding Writing. Thank you to @_hamptonu, my home by the sea, for welcoming us as we celebrated and captured HBCU culture. Legacy will always be one of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever had the privilege of creating. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees!”

Sykes is no stranger to Emmy recognition. Throughout her career, she has received 17 Emmy nominations, winning Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program for The Chris Rock Show in 1999.

Multi-hyphenate talent Jordan E. Cooper is celebrating an Emmy nomination for The Ms. Pat Show, which received a nod for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. Cooper helped develop and produce the acclaimed sitcom.

Multi-hyphenate talent Jordan E. Cooper is celebrating an Emmy nomination for The Ms. Pat Show, which received a nod for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series. Cooper helped develop and produce the acclaimed sitcom.

In a joint Instagram post, Cooper, Ms. Pat, and director Mary Lou Belli celebrated the show’s latest Emmy nod, writing, “We’re nominated for” another EMMY!!! Congratulations to @maryloubelli and the entire cast and crew of the FOUR-TIME EMMY-NOMINATED @themspatshow!”

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air live on Monday, Sept. 14, on CBS and stream on Paramount+.