The Television Academy made the shocking announcement that the 2026 Emmys will cut several major categories from the ceremony – including one that’s packed with stars. 

If you wanted to see if David Harbour go head-to-head with Jason Bateman or Dakota Fanning go up against Laurie Metcalf, it won’t be at the main ceremony.

The Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Limited Series or Movie categories are moving to the Creative Arts Emmys, which held one week before the telecast. 

The Television Academy is cutting several key categories from the Emmys 2026 telecast. GC Images The show, which is hosted by Mariska Hargitay (seen above), will air on Sept. 14, 2026. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Other categories that are moving include Writing for a Variety Series, Directing for a Limited Series or Movie, and Writing for a Limited Series or Movie and Variety Special (Live).

In total, this year’s Primetime Emmys will feature 19 categories – down from the 26 that were televised in 2025. 

Page Six reached out to the Television Academy for comment. 

Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Limited Series or Movie is one of the categories that will be presented a week before the show. (David Harbour pictured above in “DTF St. Louis.”) Tina Rowden/HBO Actors including Richard Gadd (seen above in “Half Man”), Jason Bateman and Harbour were nominated. HBO

The Supporting Actor and Actress in a Limited Series or Movie includes a slew of big stars.

The supporting actress category includes Linda Cardellini for  “DTF St. Louis,” Dakota Fanning, for “All Her Fault,” Laurie Metcalf for “Monster: The Ed Gein Story,” Joy Sunday, for “DTF St. Louis, Youn Yuh-jung for “Beef,” and Constance Zimmer for, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.”

The supporting actor category is also packed with heavyweights, including Jason Bateman for “DTF St. Louis,” Richard Gadd for “Half Man,” David Harbour for  “DTF St. Louis,” Richard Jenkins for “DTF St. Louis,” Charles Melton for “Beef,” and Nick Offerman,” for “Death by Lightning.” 

The Television Academy said in a statement Friday this change is because of the “extraordinary breadth of work recognized each year and the limited time available within a three-hour broadcast.”

In the supporting actress category, Linda Cardellini (seen in “DTF St. Louis”), Dakota Fanning and others were nominated. Tina Rowden/HBO The Academy explained the change is due to the “extraordinary breadth of work recognized each year and the limited time available within a three-hour broadcast.” (Dakota Fanning pictured on a red carpet above.) Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The statement added that it is a “thoughtful evolution” that “ensures” that the ceremony remains, “deeply engaging and tailored to the television audience.”

Snubbing actors like David Harbour, Dakota Fanning, and Richard Gadd is surprising, as Gadd was an Emmy darling for his 2024 series “Baby Reindeer.” 

The 2026 Emmys will be hosted by  “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star Mariska Hargitay. 

Other categories that wont be televised include Directing for a Limited Series or Movie and Writing for a Limited Series or Movie. Getty Images “The Pitt,” starring Noah Wyle (seen at the Emmys 2025 above), led the nominations this year. Variety via Getty Images

“The Pitt” led the pack of with 25 nominations, while “Hacks” came in second with 24. Apple TV’s summer hit horror/comedy “Widow’s Bay” came in third, with an impressive 19 nominations for its first season. 

The Creative Arts Emmys will be held on Sept. 5 and 6. 

The 2026 Emmys will be held live at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, airing Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.