Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. After a brief burst of FYC events, the 2020 Emmy race went topsy-turvy, as real-world crises took precedence across a TV industry in turmoil. But the awards cycle found a steady path forward, as the Emmys adjusted its awards calendar, campaigning dipped into the virtual realm, and rules were tweaked in order to make room for a deluge of submissions. But even with the Creative Arts ceremonies shifting from live, in-person events held at L.A.’s Microsoft Theater to a week’s worth of virtual presentations over five consecutive nights, the date of the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards never changed: On September 20, after one of the most unmappable awards seasons ever, we’ll find out the winners in the Emmy’s most competitive races.
So, who’s got the edge? IndieWire’s 2020 Emmy Predictions are here to help shed a little light on exactly that. Nominations are led by “Watchmen,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Succession” and “Ozark,” three of which represent the Emmys’ two heavyweight networks, HBO and Netflix (respectively). The streaming giant landed a staggering 160 Emmy nominations in 2020, while the premium cable network pulled in a sizable 107 nods, as well; which of these awards titans can score the most wins — as well as wins in the most prominent categories — will be top-of-mind talking points throughout the coming weeks.
That’s just a small fraction of the top contenders, and in the links below, you’ll find TV Critic Ben Travers’ predictions for the 2020 Primetime Emmys. The IndieWire TV team — led by TV Awards Editor Libby Hill — have been monitoring the ups and downs of every major category throughout the season, speaking to voters, interviewing candidates, hosting panels, covering virtual screenings, and gauging industry chatter in order to provide the most up-to-date state of the race. Below are the most up-to-the-minute predictions, in preparation for the ceremony this September. Programs that air half or more of their season between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020 will be eligible for the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards. (Though this year, the TV Academy expanded that timeline to June 30.) Nomination voting ran from July 2 – 13, and the nominations were announced Tuesday, July 28. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be given out over five consecutive nights, with virtual ceremonies running from September 14 – 19, while the 72nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on Sunday, September 20. ABC is broadcasting the ceremony from the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, and Jimmy Kimmel has been announced as host. The Emmy predictions below will be refreshed throughout the race, so keep checking IndieWire for the most accurate power rankings out there, and make sure to follow IndieWire on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest Emmys news.
Drama Series
Outstanding Drama Series — Updated Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series — Updated Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series — Updated Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series — Updated Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Updated
Comedy Series
Outstanding Comedy Series — Updated Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series — Updated Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series — Updated Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series — Updated Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series — Updated
Limited Series and TV Movie
Outstanding Limited Series — Updated Outstanding TV Movie — Updated Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie — Updated Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie — Updated Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie — Updated Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie — Updated
Additional Predictions
Outstanding Animated Program — Updated Outstanding Variety Talk Series — Updated Outstanding Variety Sketch Series — Updated Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series — Updated Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special — Updated Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
