It received 19, including best comedy series, lead actor Matthew Rhys and both writing (creator Katie Dippold) and directing (Hiro Murai).

It’s the strongest showing for any new series, ahead of Pluribus, and it is the most widely recognized comedy by the Television Academy.

Apple’s 2026 Emmys season was stacked with launches of new shows from Emmy vets like David E. Kelley (Margo’s Got Money Troubles) and Vince Gilligan (Pluribus).

Superb reviews helped the show stand out: Widow’s Bay received  5 TV Critics Association award nominations, more than any other comedy — before word of mouth grew as new episodes dropped.

Major celebs like Guillermo del Toro, Ben Stiller and Jonathan Bailey sang the show’s praises on social media, while viewers responded to Widow’s Bay’s singular tone, playful structure and peerless ensemble, which also included TV vets like Stephen Root and Dale Dickey, both of whom were nominated.

O’Flynn was also recognized for performance in the show, as were guest stars Betty Gilpin and Hamish Linklater (director Richard’s daughter)

The nominations overall this year reveal that it was hard for new series to break out–Widow’s Bay proving a thrilling, enormous exception.

With its inventive style and generic elements, Widow’s Bay was also recognized below the line, production design, cinematography, editing, sound mixing.

Rhys, who previously won the Emmy for best actor in drama for The Americans, should be considered front-runner in wide-open lead-acting category. (He’s also nominated on the limited-series for Netflix’s The Beast in Me).