Jean Smart has won an Emmy for every season of “Hacks.” Every single one. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss almost did the same for “Veep.” She won six straight before losing for “Veep’s” final season to “Fleabag’s” Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Is history about to repeat itself, or will Smart’s run as Deborah Vance reward her with five trophies? That might be a question for August, because at this point, determining the other likely four to five nominees is the bigger question.

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“Abbott Elementary’s” Quinta Brunson and “The Comeback’s” Lisa Kudrow are pretty much a given. Both have been nominated for every year of their respective series. Brunson is a former winner (the one-year “Hacks” didn’t qualify), and Kudrow won almost 30 years ago in the Supporting Actress in a Comedy category for “Friends.” Then things get interesting.

Ayo Edebiri should be a given for the fourth season of “The Bear,” but that series has seemingly faded in the guild and Emmy awards race over the past 12 months. Kristen Wiig is a 13-time Emmy nominee and was recognized for the first season of “Palm Royale.” The kicker is that Apple TV already canceled the campy, period comedy before Emmy season truly began. Television Academy voters often don’t care (see Uzo Aduba’s nod for “The Residence” last year), but it’s not ideal. The one likely newcomer should be Elle Fanning for “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” and her Oscar nomination earlier this year certainly doesn’t hurt (nor does her previous nom in this category for “The Great”).

Kristen Bell earned a nomination for “Nobody Wants This” a year ago, but was snubbed by the SAG Actor Awards for season two. Jenna Ortega cracked this category for “Wednesday’s” first season in 2023, and Television Academy members love their Netflix, but are Ortega and the show still top of mind? Selena Gomez earned a nomination in this category two years ago, and “Only Murders in the Building” is still an industry favorite. She’s always got a shot at cracking the field until it’s not.

Legit longshots include Emmy favorites Maya Rudolph (“Loot”), Carrie Preston (“Elbeth”), and Tina Fey (“The Four Seasons”). Rose Byrne (“Platonic”), Rachel Sennot (“I Love LA”), Kate Hudson (“Running Point”), and Emilia Clarke (“Ponies”) are also in the mix.

May 6, 2026

Locks

Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Lisa Kudrow, “The Comeback”
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”

Almost There

Elle Fanning, “Margo’s Got Money Troubles”
Kristen Wiig, “Palm Royale”
Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”
Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”
Jenna Ortega, “Wednesday”

Longshots

Maya Rudoplh, “Loot”
Kate Hudson, “Running Point”
Carrie Preston, “Elsbeth”
Rose Byrne, “Platonic”
Tina Fey, “Four Seasons”
Rachel Sennott, “I Love LA”
Emilia Clarke, “Ponies”

More contenders and predictions:

Comedy Series
Drama Series
Limited or Anthology Series

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