The Gotham Film & Media Institute has officially announced the contenders for the 2026 Gotham TV Awards, showcasing a vibrant collection of innovative storytelling and high-caliber television production. This year’s list of nominees highlights the fierce competition between major streaming platforms, with Netflix emerging as the frontrunner. The awards ceremony is scheduled to honor the best in the industry on June 1 at the iconic Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
Streaming Giants Battle for Supremacy
The 2026 nominations illustrate the continued influence of digital platforms in the prestige television landscape. Netflix secured a commanding lead with a total of 22 nominations. Close behind is HBO Max, which earned 19 mentions, solidifying its reputation for high-quality drama and comedy. Other major players including Hulu and Apple TV managed to secure six nominations each, proving that the competition for viewership and critical acclaim remains as tight as ever.
Leading Contenders and Breakthrough Hits
Two shows have emerged as the primary forces in this year’s race. The Netflix comedy Big Mistakes and the limited series Death by Lightning both garnered four nominations each. Following closely with three nominations each are several critically praised projects such as Beef, I Love LA, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, DTF St. Louis, Pluribus, and Alien: Earth.
The Breakthrough Comedy Series category is particularly competitive this year. Big Mistakes is joined by other fresh titles like The Chair Company, I Love LA, Long Story Short, and Too Much. These selections represent a diverse range of comedic styles, from satirical takes on corporate life to personal narratives set in major metropolitan hubs.
Full List of 2026 Gotham TV Awards Nominees:
Breakthrough Comedy Series
- Big Mistakes (Netflix)
- The Chair Company (HBO Max)
- I Love LA (HBO Max)
- Long Story Short (Netflix)
- Too Much (Netflix)
Breakthrough Drama Series
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)
- Alien: Earth (FX/Hulu)
- Dept. Q (Netflix)
- Pluribus (Apple TV)
- Task (HBO Max)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
- Beef (Netflix)
- Death by Lightning (Netflix)
- DTF St. Louis (HBO Max)
- Half Man (HBO Max)
- Lord of the Flies (Netflix)
Breakthrough Nonfiction Series
- High Horse: The Black Cowboy (Peacock)
- Katrina: Come Hell and High Water (Netflix)
- Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV)
- Sean Combs: The Reckoning (Netflix)
- The Yogurt Shop Murders (HBO Max)
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series
- Elle Fanning – Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)
- Dan Levy – Big Mistakes (Netflix)
- Taylor Ortega – Big Mistakes (Netflix)
- Tim Robinson – The Chair Company (HBO Max)
- Rachel Sennott – I Love LA (HBO Max)
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series
- Malin Åkerman – The Hunting Wives (Netflix)
- Sydney Chandler – Alien: Earth (FX/Hulu)
- Peter Claffey – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)
- Chase Infiniti – The Testaments (Hulu)
- Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus (Apple TV)
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited or Anthology Series
- Riz Ahmed – Bait (Amazon Prime Video)
- Jamie Bell – Half Man (HBO Max)
- Matthew Macfadyen – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
- Carey Mulligan – Beef (Netflix)
- Sarah Pidgeon – Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (FX/Hulu)
- Lili Reinhart – Hal & Harper (MUBI)
- Michael Shannon – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series
- Odessa A’zion – I Love LA (HBO Max)
- Erika Alexander – The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (NBC)
- Laurie Metcalf – Big Mistakes (Netflix)
- Michelle Pfeiffer – Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple TV)
- Daniel Radcliffe – The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (NBC)
- Haley Lu Richardson – Ponies (Peacock)
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series
- Dexter Sol Ansell – A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)
- Babou Ceesay – Alien: Earth (FX/Hulu)
- Zach Galifianakis – The Audacity (AMC)
- Tom Pelphrey – Task (HBO Max)
- Karolina Wydra – Pluribus (Apple TV)
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited or Anthology Series
- Linda Cardellini – DTF St. Louis (HBO Max)
- David Harbour – DTF St. Louis (HBO Max)
- David McKenna – Lord of the Flies (Netflix)
- Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning (Netflix)
- Cailee Spaeny – Beef (Netflix)
Outstanding Original Film (Broadcast or Streaming)
- Color Theories (HBO Max)
- People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix)
- Reflection in a Dead Diamond (Shudder)
- Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix)
- #Skyking (Hulu)
Outstanding Performance in an Original Film
- Sally Field – Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix)
- Allison Janney – Miss You, Love You (HBO Max)
- Cassandra Naud – Influencers (Shudder)
- Yannick Renier – Reflection in a Dead Diamond (Shudder)
- Cory Michael Smith – Mountainhead (HBO Max)
