Emmy Awards Amend Rules in a Music Category Starting in 2026: What’s Changing?

The Television Academy announced a rule change for the Primetime Emmy Awards in the category of outstanding original main title theme music, which takes effect in 2026.

“A main title theme must appear in 50% or more of eligible episodes submitted for the 2026 Emmy competition,” the new rule states. “The main title theme has been further defined as a musical fingerprint and calling card that is identifiable and unique to a show, thereby drawing an audience in by setting the show’s tone and what is to come.”

The last five winners in this category are Hollywood by Nathan Barr (2020), The Flight Attendant by Blake Neely (2021), The White Lotus by Cristobal Tapia de Veer (2022), Wednesday by Danny Elfman (2023) and Palm Royale by Jeff Toyne (2024).

The TV Academy also announced two changes that will take effect with the 77th Emmy Awards competition later this year.

Guest Performer eligibility: If a performer has been nominated or has won in a lead or supporting performer category, the performer will not be eligible to submit in a guest performer category in a subsequent Emmy year for playing the same character role in the same series. They may, however, continue to enter in a lead or supporting category.

This smart move will open up more spots for actors who are truly guests on a show, not actors who are playing recurring characters. Mel Brooks won three consecutive Emmys (1997-99) for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for playing Uncle Phil on Mad About You. Seven actors won two guest actor Emmys for playing the same character on the same series. They were Jay Thomas for playing Jerry Gold on Murphy Brown, Cloris Leachman for playing Grandma Ida on Malcolm in the Middle, Colleen Dewhurst for playing Avery Brown on Murphy Brown, Kathryn Joosten for playing Karen McCluskey on Desperate Housewives, Ron Cephas Jones for playing William Hill on This Is Us, Patricia Clarkson for playing Sarah O’Connor on Six Feet Under, and Margo Martindale for playing Claudia on The Americans.

Directing: An eligible individual director or the identical directing team may now enter multiple achievements per category if the achievements are for different programs. Previously, directors were allowed to submit only one entry per category. This change will allow the director to submit an episode from each of the programs they directed.