TV Academy Announces Rule Changes for 2026 Primetime Emmys, Including Tweaks to Music Categories
Written by admin on January 9, 2026
It also added a statement about AI and gave more details about its new Legacy Award.
Emmy statuette at the 71st Emmy Awards Preview Day at Microsoft Theater on September 19, 2019 in Los Angeles.
Rodin Eckenroth/GI
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The Television Academy announced on Friday (Jan. 9) the rules changes for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, several of which pertain to music categories. The academy also added a statement about AI to its Rules & Procedures book, and shed light on its new Legacy Award, which will be presented to classic TV series.
Here’s a summary of key changes most relevant to the music community.
Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary/Nonfiction or Reality Program (Original Dramatic Score)
Rule Change: The category formerly known as Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) will now allow eligibility for reality programs that contain an original dramatic score.
2025 winner: Chef’s Table: “José Andrés” – Duncan Thum and David Bertok (Netflix)
Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
Rule Changes: Expanded eligibility to include main-on-end themes. Both a main title theme (appearing at the beginning of the program) and a main-on-end title theme (appearing after the final act, before the end credits/crawl) are eligible.
A main title theme must appear in 50% or more of eligible episodes submitted for the 2026 Emmy competition. The main title theme has been further defined as a musical fingerprint and calling card that is identifiable and unique to a show.
2025 winner: The White Lotus – Cristobal Tapia de Veer (HBO)
Outstanding Movie
Rule change: The name of the Outstanding Television Movie category has been changed to Outstanding Movie to more accurately reflect the evolving landscape of cinematic content created for broadcast or streaming.
2025 winner: Rebel Ridge (Netflix)
AI Statement
The following statement has been added to the academy’s Rules & Procedures book: “The Television Academy reserves the right to inquire about the use of AI in submissions. The core of our recognition remains centered on human storytelling, regardless of the tools used to bring it to life.”
Legacy Award
The academy announced the creation of the Legacy Award, recognizing a program that has made “a profound and lasting impact on audiences and sustained its relevance to society, culture and the industry.” Candidates will be selected annually by the Governors Award committee (to be renamed the Special Awards Committee) and presented to the Board of Governors for a vote.
Criteria for the Legacy Award include:
- A minimum of 60 episodes aired across a minimum of five seasons.
- Continued or sustained relevance, influence or inspiration to a genre of television, to an existing or new audience and/or to society and culture.
Preference is given to shows celebrating an anniversary in the year awarded. Programs that were previously awarded the Governors Award are not eligible. These are Masterpiece Theatre (1991), American Idol (2016) and Star Trek (2018). Also, no future Governors Awards may go to a program.
The Legacy Award will be given to the creator(s) and up to four lead executive producers/showrunners whose tenure on the production significantly contributed to its longevity and success (as determined by the Television Academy) and to the main network/studio partner airing the program.
Like the Governors Award, the winners will receive an Emmy statuette. The award may be given out during the Creative Arts Emmy ceremonies, the telecast Emmy ceremony, or the Hall of Fame ceremony.
