The nominations for the 2026 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards have been revealed with preschool fave Ms. Rachel earning her first Emmy nods. Ms. Rachel is up for best preschool, children’s or family viewing series and best writing in a preschool or children’s series.
Other notable nominees include June Squibb, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Heartstopper‘s Kit Connor and Joe Locke, Jude Law, Cynthia Erivo, John Lithgow, Maya Rudolph, John C. Reilly, Amber Riley and Ana Gasteyer.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which presents the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, also revealed that the fourth annual ceremony, taking place on March 1 and 2, 2026, will take place in New York at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.
This year, the Children’s and Family Emmys also adjusted a number of categories. Best single role voice performance and multiple role voice performance in preschool programs were merged into one category of outstanding voice performer in a preschool program. Best directing for single- and multiple-camera live-action programs were merged into one best directing for a live-action series category. The best editing categories were previously split by single-camera and multi-camera program but are now split by age into best editing for a preschool or children’s live-action program and best editing for a young teen live-action program. And the outstanding lighting, camera and technical arts categories and outstanding cinematography categories were merged into one category each for live-action and multiple-camera shows.
“We’re excited to honor the extraordinary individuals and teams who bring children’s and family television to life every day,” said Rachel Schwartz, head of the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. “As the landscape continues to grow — and as studies highlight the positive impact educational programming has on young children — we look forward to coming together to celebrate this meaningful and inspiring work.”
A complete list of this year’s Children’s & Family Emmy Awards nominees is available on the awards’ website.