The Emmys are ignoring some of the internet’s biggest TV obsessions

The shows getting the most attention online this year are not necessarily the ones getting the most attention at the Emmys. Heated Rivalry is not on the ballot at all, while Stranger Things and Euphoria have much smaller Emmy footprints than their enormous fandoms would suggest.

That does not mean the Television Academy is getting it wrong. It does show how different the Emmy conversation can be from the conversation happening on social media, where a show can become a phenomenon because people are obsessed with its characters, relationships, clothes, memes or whatever moment everyone keeps posting.

Heated Rivalry was everywhere except the Emmys

Heated Rivalry is probably the clearest example. The Canadian hockey romance became one of those shows that seemed to be in everyone’s feed, with Shane and Ilya inspiring edits, fan posts and plenty of very intense discussion.

But Heated Rivalry was never actually in the running for tonight’s Emmys. Because it is a fully Canadian production, it did not meet the U.S. involvement requirements for Primetime Emmy eligibility. The series will be eligible for the International Emmys instead.

So one of the year’s biggest online TV obsessions was shut out before Emmy voters ever had a chance to weigh in. That is a very different situation from a show getting nominated and losing, and it makes Heated Rivalry the easiest example of just how far the internet’s TV conversation can drift from awards season.

Stranger Things And Euphoria Have The Opposite Problem

Stranger Things did make the ballot, which makes its final Emmy run much more interesting. The Netflix hit has seven nominations this year, but every one is in a technical category. The cast did not get an acting nomination, and the series is not competing for Outstanding Drama Series.

For a show that turned Eleven, Steve and the rest of its cast into household names, that is a pretty quiet goodbye. Stranger Things has spent years generating fan theories, memes, Halloween costumes and endless arguments over its characters, yet none of that shows up particularly well in its Emmy haul.

Euphoria has an even smaller presence. Zendaya is the show’s only acting nominee for its final season, giving her another chance to win for Rue after already taking home two Emmys for the role.

Again, the show has hardly disappeared from pop culture. Its characters, fashion, music and storylines have fueled years of online conversation. But if someone only looked at this year’s acting nominations, they would have a hard time guessing how much attention Euphoria has received.

That is the strange part of this year’s Emmy lineup. The shows that dominate online conversation do not always end up dominating the awards conversation, and sometimes the reason is as simple as eligibility. Other times, the ballot just does not capture what people were actually obsessed with.

Where to watch the 2026 Emmys

The 78th Emmy Awards air Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC, with the ceremony streaming live on Peacock. Mariska Hargitay is hosting the ceremony from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

There is plenty happening before the actual awards, too. E! begins its pre-show at 5 p.m. ET, followed by live red carpet coverage at 6 p.m. The ceremony itself will also feature appearances from presenters including Zendaya, Jon Hamm, Sally Field, Amy Poehler, Florence Pugh and Keke Palmer.

The Pitt leads all programs with 25 nominations, followed closely by Hacks with 24. Widow’s Bay has 19 and Pluribus has 18, while Beef earned 16 and DTF St. Louis has 13.

There are also a few bigger feats to watch out for tonight. Jean Smart could make Emmy history with another acting win for Hacks, while Harrison Ford is nominated for his first Emmy for Shrinking. Meanwhile, The Pitt is looking to repeat as Outstanding Drama Series after already picking up four Creative Arts Emmys.

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.