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53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Set Date for Ceremony, Nominations this Summer, Rule Changes for 2026 as Submissions Open

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: NATAS

On Thursday, the National Academy of Television Arts Sciences (NATAS) has announced that they have set the date for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, have opened submissions, shared when the nominations will be announced, and revealed rule changes for the 2026 competition and a newly-designed logo and key art.

With submissions beginning today on March 19, look for the nominations for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards to be revealed this summer in a date in July. 

Additionally, the date for this year’s ceremony will again be in the fall currently slated for October 30th with this year to take place in Hollywood. In 2025, the ceremony took place at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. There are no further details as of yet, if the ceremony will be just streamed or televised.

Photo: JPI

Below are the list of changes that will impact: Guest Performer in a Daytime Drama, Episode-Based Submissions, Joint Drama/Non-Fiction categories, Science and Nature programming, Multi and Single Cam shows, Members-only judging, and nominee count.

Guest Performer In a Daytime Drama – The Guest category is now mandated by a MAXIMUM of 19% of episodes aired/streamed for the first time during calendar year 2025. Performers appearing on more episodes than that are eligible only in the Leading, Supporting, or Emerging Talent categories.

  • The former definition was “a performance in a limited role with a definitive beginning and end to the story arc.”

Episode-Based Submissions – To align Emmy competitions, the contest has switched to a “Primetime Format” that focuses on episode-based submissions for craft categories, rather than the team-based structure which allowed the full team to be awarded based on a single submission.

  • A program is therefore eligible to enter multiple submissions for different episodes and potentially receive multiple nominations within the same category.

Joint Drama/Non-Fiction Categories – In any craft excepting Writing and Directing, Dramas and Non-Fiction Programs will enter alongside one another in Daytime Program categories. These will be split into separate categories IF both the Daytime Drama and Daytime Non-Fiction tracks have at least 10 submissions per track.

  • Example: If the Dramas and Non-Dramas each have at least 10 entries in the Costume Design/Styling category, contest administration will create a Costume Design/Styling in a Daytime Drama Series category and a Costume Design/Styling for a Daytime Non-Fiction Program category. If they do not, they will all compete in Costume Design/Styling for a Daytime Program.

Science and Nature Programming – The Daytime Emmys is no longer offering a Science and Nature category.

  • Science and Nature programming that has traditionally fallen under the Daytime Emmys, which features an offscreen/voiceover narrator, belongs either in News & Doc or Primetime.

  • Science and Nature programming that has traditionally fallen under the Daytime Emmys, which features a participatory host, belongs in Children’s & Family if geared towards viewers from infancy to age 15, or it belongs in Primetime if geared towards older viewers.

  • Any programming in any genre that is produced by the documentary department of a platform/network/production company is NOT eligible for the Daytime Emmys. It should instead be entered in either the News & Doc Emmys or the Primetime Emmys.

Redefining Multi-Cam and Single-Cam – All categories formerly defined or tracked as multi-cam or single-cam have been reclassified as either Studio or Non-Studio. Programs featuring both filming styles must a) choose to enter categories featuring the predominant style and b) may NOT enter certain crafts in one style and other crafts in the other style. Predominant is defined as 50.1%.

  • This applies in Non-Fiction Directing, Technical Direction, and Editing categories.

Members-Only Judging – As announced last year, judging for the Daytime Emmys has moved to a members-only model. Judges who are members of either NATAS, the Television Academy, or dual members will automatically be approved to judge. Members in applicable categories will be assigned, at the discretion of competition administrators, to the appropriate category or categories, as outlined in our judging guidelines.

  • For categories in which NATAS is unable to field a viable panel solely with member judges — and only in these categories — administrators will also consider judges from the following groups, in order of priority: (1) prior Emmy Award winners, (2) prior Emmy Award nominees, and (3) those who otherwise meet the published membership criteria for their respective Peer Group but have elected not to join at this time.

  • NATAS will consider the availability of member-judges in the ongoing viability evaluation of competition categories and may, in the future, eliminate those categories for which full panels of member-judges are consistently unobtainable.

Nominee Count: In any category with fewer than ten (10) submissions, the default number of nominations is 50% of the category’s submissions, rounded up to the nearest whole number, unless a more natural cutoff or a minimum viability limitation applies. Categories with three (3) or fewer submissions have no nominations, though the National Awards Committee may proceed with an award based on a standard of excellence if the category is not otherwise merged or eliminated.

Thereafter, the default number of nominations in a category is as follows:

    • 10 – 29 submissions: 5 nominations

    • 30 – 59 submissions: 6 nominations

    • 60 – 89 submissions: 7 nominations

    • 90 – 119 submissions: 8 nominations

    • 120 -149  submissions: 9 nominations

    • 150 or more submissions: 10 nominations

So, glad to hear submissions are now open for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, plus a date for the ceremony? What do you think about the rule changes for Guest Performer in a Daytime Drama? Who do you think it helps be included and what actors do you think it would then exclude where they would need to enter in one of the other acting categories? Let us know your thoughts on the changes to the rules and more, via the comment section below.

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Let’s hope it will be televised. I am hoping to see Jane Elliot win Best Actress (for Monica’s death and the aftermath), Steve Burton (Monica’s death, his scenes on the stairs at the Quartermaine house), Giovanni Mazza (Gio) for Best Supporting Actor (Nurses’s Ball), Amanda Setton (BLQ, her scenes with Lois and finding out Gio was her son), but mostly see Erica Slezak win Best Guest Performer.

I agree with all of the above nominees for General Hospital.

Any other nominees than Slezak in Guest can be referred to as sacrificial lambs

would be great to see the show televised especially on CBS since this is the first year Beyond The Gates is eligible ! Here come the fans who think general and beyond the gates should win everything! it’s so obnoxious there are 5 shows share the wealth and that pic of Jonathan Jackson is an annoying reminder how he should not have won this year ! the nominations should be interesting there always seems to be several head scratchers in the mix

Projecting much?

Well he’s right about Jonathan Jackson.

thank you

I was referring to the rest of it because he doesn’t have a crystal ball.

Is it just me, or are many of these changes pointlessly idiotic and restrictive?

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‘Santa Barbara’ Favorites A Martinez and Marcy Walker, ‘Cruz and Eden’ Reunion Chat, On Demand Replay Available for Half Price (Exclusive)

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The love was felt around the world during the Sunday, June 7 livestream conversation featuring enduring Santa Barbara Daytime Emmy winners, A Martinez and Marcy Walker who played Cruz Castillo and Eden Capwell on the iconic NBC soap opera. The popular duo reunited for this special one-day only special event honoring their most memorable of daytime roles.

Santa Barbara was globally a hit, and nothing illustrated that more than having attendees from 20 countries and over four continents participate in and watch the live chat moderated by Melissa Braverman, the author of Santa Barbara: The Complete Story due out this fall.

While many were not able to purchase the initial livestream when the ticket costs were revealed to be $100,  A Martinez previously clarified the event was to also raise money for Walker, who is currently facing a very serious health situation, now there is a way to catch the replay at half the price.

Courtesy: MBraverman

HOW YOU CAN STILL CATCH A AND MARCY’S LIVESTREAM

Michael Fairman TV can share exclusively that if you missed the chance to see and listen to what A and Marcy had to say, On demand access is available at the event link for a half price at $50 (guests can contribute up to $100 if they so chose). Like the livestream, 100% of On demand sales for the recording will be available for a limited time only, and also go toward Marcy’s medical expenses.

There was plenty of laughter, tears, and reminiscing through the the two and a half hour chat which included: some memorable footage and images from the love story of Cruz and Eden. At one point, Marcy reflected on the enduring impact and affection for Cruz and Eden. “You hope that whatever you do in this life, that you’ll make an impact of some kind,” expressed Walker. “It doesn’t have to necessarily be wrapped up in success or career or anything like that, but I think we all want desperately to feel like our time here blessed someone. To hear that somebody’s life was even a moment better because of what we did is a massive gift.

Photo: NBC

A AND MARCY’S DESIRE TO WORK TOGETHER AGAIN

In a moment that brought joy to those in attendance, A and Marcy both expressed a sincere hope and desire that one day they can work together again. Martinez explained, “There’s more avenues to pursue now than there have ever been. I would say just keep a good thought for it. I’ve been holding it for decades, and I fully intend to do whatever I can to make it happen. We’re engaged in trying to make it happen. And you know, we’ll see. I know we both want to do it.” Marcy simply nodded and responded “Amen.”

Melissa Braverman shared with Michael Fairman TV, her sentiments on hosting the Santa Barbara favorites. “Seeing A and Marcy together again, even virtually, was an absolute gift. It instantly reminded all of us why we fell so hard for Cruz and Eden in the first place. Their undeniable chemistry leaped off the screen and straight back into our hearts, proving that the magic they created all those years ago hasn’t faded one bit. Sharing in equal parts laughter and tears felt like catching up with old friends. It just meant the world to see them side-by-side again and to see how this incredible fandom showed up for Marcy during such an important time for her.”

So, if you attended the livestream chat with A Martinez and Marcy Walker, what did you enjoy hearing about the most? Now the tickets have dropped to watch the replay On Demand, would you want to check it out? Let us know via the comment section below.

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‘Days of Our Lives’ Officially Confirms Ryan Quan Returning as Co-Head Writer Beginning in July

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There is definitely a shake-up going down at the writing team at Peacock’s Days of Our Lives. Now, the long-running soap opera has confirmed, what has been previously reported, that current General Hospital breakdown writer, Ryan Quan is heading back to his old stomping grounds in Salem. This time as the series co-head writer.

The appointment of Quan comes with the official news that current co-head writer, Paula Cwikly, who was previously rumored to be departing the series, is not. She is staying with the soap opera and transitioning to a consultant role with the show. Now, Quan will join current co-head writer, Jeanne Marie Ford to steer the ship for the characters on the canvas.

On Wednesday, TV Insider, reported the official confirmation and that Quan will return to DAYS next month in July. In a statement to the outlet, executive producer, Ken Corday expressed, ‘We are lucky to have Ryan back in the fold. There are very few people who have such a deep knowledge and understanding of our show’s history. Stay tuned!”

Photo: JPI

THE FUTURE OF DAYS OF OUR LIVES

Since Days of our Lives unusual production schedule tapes ten-months ahead of air, the new creative team’s vision led by Quan and Jeanne Marie Ford are not expected to stream on Peacock until mid-2027.

Days of Our Lives is currently renewed through its 63rd season. The former NBC soap opera which transitioned to Peacock in September of 2022, celebrate its 60th anniversary in November of 2025.

The writing regime change comes after NBCUniversal Media Chairman Matt Strauss revealed that Peacock is expected to turn a profit for the first time in the current quarter, punctuating their investment with the enduring soap opera on its platform.

As for Quan, his knowledge of Salem is tremendous. Ryan joined Days of Our Lives as a writer’s assistant in 2007 after some time over at Passions. He then spent two decades and held every position on the writing team where he previously served as co-head writer from 2016-17 alongside Dena Higley.

Later, when Ron Carlivati took over as head writer for 7 years in 2017, Quan became his right-hand man and main story consultant for his deep knowledge of the history and the legacy of the show. After Carlivati exited the show in 2024, General Hospital hired Quan in 2025.

So, what do you think about DAYS making it official with Ryan Quan as the new co-head writer of the series alongside Jeanne Marie Ford. What do you think about the fact we won’t see the changes on-screen till 2027? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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ABC Announces ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Texas Spin-Off Gets Straight-to-Series Order

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In a surprise move, coming a week after ABC unveiled its 2026-2027 fall television schedule, Grey’s Anatomy is getting a new spinoff co-created by the original series’ creator/executive producer Shonda Rhimes.

The new untitled medical drama will be written and executive produced by Rhimes and Grey’s Anatomy showrunner/executive producer Meg Marinis under the Shondaland and 20th Television umbrella. In addition, long-running ‘Grey’s’ star Ellen Pompeo will also serve as an EP of the spinoff.

The upcoming new series will debut midseason in 2027. This will be the first of Grey’s franchise not set in urban city or West Coast locale. According to Deadline, the new “edgy drama is about a team at a rural West Texas medical center — the last chance for care before miles of nowhere.”

Photo: ABC

In a statement, Marinis shared, “I am incredibly excited to expand the Grey’s Anatomy universe. This opportunity will bring new characters and stories to life that will embody the same heart, emotion and connection audiences have loved from Grey’s for more than two decades — all set in my home state of Texas. I am so grateful to Shonda Rhimes for creating this dynamic world and feel so fortunate that I get to be a part of it.”

A NEW GROUP OF DOCTORS IN RURAL TEXAS

The Texas spinoff will feature a a new group of doctors, but there will be some connection to the OG Grey’s Anatomy and possibly to Debbie Allen’s character of Catherine Fox. The amount of episodes in the series order has not yet been determined. Previous Grey’s Anatomy spinoffs were the defunct Station 19 and Private Practice.

Previously, Grey’s Anatomy was renewed for its upcoming 23rd season while the amount of episodes is unclear.  The last two seasons the series produced 18 episodes.

It should also be noted, Grey’s Anatomy and the Texas spinoff would likely share a time period, which requires limited-run orders for both with Grey’s premiering in the fall, followed by the spinoff on the midseason programming block.

So, what do you think about a Texas spinoff of Grey’s Anatomy coming in 2027? Who would you like to see from daytime or primetime as some of the featured roles as new doctors? Put on your casting directors hat and let us know via the comment section below.

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