2026 Daytime Emmy Awards: Winners List and Top Moments
General Hospital won Outstanding Drama Series for a sixth straight year at the 53rd Daytime Emmys on October 30, 2026. Here are the major winners, the night's big moments and where to stream the replay.
- General Hospital won Outstanding Daytime Drama Series at the 53rd Daytime Emmys on October 30, 2026, its sixth straight win and a record 19th overall, the AP reported.
- Tamara Tunie (Beyond the Gates) and Scott Clifton (The Bold and the Beautiful) won the lead acting Emmys; The Kelly Clarkson Show won talk series and a leading five awards.
- Genie Francis received the Lifetime Achievement Award from husband Jonathan Frakes; the hostless, stream-only show can be replayed on The Emmys YouTube channel and app.
The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards crowned General Hospital Outstanding Daytime Drama Series on Friday, October 30, the ABC soap's sixth straight win and, according to the Associated Press, a record 19th overall. Tamara Tunie of Beyond the Gates and Scott Clifton of The Bold and the Beautiful took the lead acting prizes, The Kelly Clarkson Show won Outstanding Daytime Talk Series, and Genie Francis received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 53rd ceremony was held at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles and was streamed rather than shown on TV. This guide lists the winners in the major categories from the official winners report of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), then covers the night's biggest moments and how to watch the replay. The results below are final as of October 31, 2026.
2026 Daytime Emmy Awards winners in the major categories
NATAS's list covers 41 categories, all presented in a single show. As in 2025, there was no separate Creative Arts ceremony, Soap Opera Digest had reported ahead of the night. These are the headline results:
- Outstanding Daytime Drama Series: General Hospital (ABC)
- Lead Actress, Drama: Tamara Tunie as Anita Williams Dupree, Beyond the Gates (CBS)
- Lead Actor, Drama: Scott Clifton as Liam Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
- Supporting Actress, Drama: Beth Maitland as Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Supporting Actor, Drama: Roger Howarth as Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
- Emerging Talent, Drama: Ambyr Michelle as Eva Thomas, Beyond the Gates (CBS)
- Guest Performance, Drama: Jeff Kober as Cyrus Renault, General Hospital
- Writing Team, Drama: General Hospital; Directing Team, Drama: Days of our Lives (Peacock)
- Outstanding Daytime Talk Series: The Kelly Clarkson Show
- Talk Series Host: Sherri Shepherd, Sherri
- Entertainment News Series: Entertainment Tonight
- Culinary Instructional Series and Culinary Host: Be My Guest with Ina Garten and Ina Garten
- Daytime Personality, Daily: Star Jones and Corey Jovan, Divorce Court; Non-Daily: Giada De Laurentiis, Giada in My Kitchen
- Legal/Courtroom Series: Justice for the People with Judge Milian
- Travel and Adventure Program: Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross
- Lifestyle Program: A Different Breed
The same winners appear in the lists published by Soap Opera Digest, Soap Hub, TVLine and TV Insider. Two categories ended in ties: non-fiction writing and hairstyling and makeup.
General Hospital extends its record run
General Hospital beat Beyond the Gates, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless for the top prize. Executive producer Frank Valentini accepted the award, Michael Fairman TV reported. TVLine and Variety also count six wins in a row.
The show went in with 13 nominations and left with four Emmys, The Hollywood Reporter counted: drama series, writing team, casting, and Kober's guest performance award. Fairman notes it is Kober's second Emmy for playing Cyrus Renault, after a supporting actor win in 2022. TheWrap pointed out that Kober was also a Primetime Emmy nominee this year for The Pitt, the medical drama led by Noah Wyle, People's Sexiest Man Alive 2026.
Beyond the Gates makes a big debut
CBS's Beyond the Gates, eligible for the first time, also won four Emmys: lead actress, emerging talent, lighting direction and a shared hairstyling and makeup award. Outlets put its nomination total at 15 or 16, depending on how they count. The AP describes it as the first new network soap since 1999 and the first with a primarily Black cast since Generations in the 1990s.
Tunie, who began in daytime on As the World Turns in 1987, won her first Emmy. She thanked the "host of Black actresses who paved the way for me," beginning with Cicely Tyson, THR reported. She also called the win "the best welcome back to daytime ever," according to the AP.
Acting milestones for Clifton, Maitland and Howarth
Clifton's win for playing Liam Spencer is his second in the lead category after 2017 and his fourth Daytime Emmy overall, the AP and Fairman reported. He beat Eric Braeden, Steve Burton, Thorsten Kaye and Christian Jules LeBlanc, according to the official nominations list. "I'm speechless," he said on stage. In the lead actress race, The Bold and the Beautiful's Heather Tom missed out on what THR called a record-setting seventh trophy.
The Young and the Restless led all shows with 18 nominations but won three awards: both supporting acting prizes and costume design. Beth Maitland's second Emmy came 41 years after her first, Fairman noted. Roger Howarth's first came in 1994 for playing Todd Manning on One Life to Live.
Genie Francis's Lifetime Achievement Award
NATAS named Francis its 2026 honoree on September 3, Soap Opera Digest reported. She first appeared as Laura on General Hospital on February 8, 1977, when she was 14. Her husband, actor Jonathan Frakes, presented the award, and their children Jameson and Eliza helped her onto the stage because she is recovering from a broken ankle, People reported.
Frakes also read a message from Jonathan Jackson, who plays her on-screen son Lucky. "Genie was like a mother to me," Jackson wrote, TV Insider reported. In her speech, Francis said, "I know 50 years sounds like an awfully long time, but it doesn't feel like it to me," the AP and People reported. She added, "The joy of doing the work has never left me," Variety reported.
Talk and lifestyle winners
The Kelly Clarkson Show won five Emmys, more than any other program, including talk series and four craft awards. The show ended its seven-season run in August, USA Today noted, and it regained the talk series prize that Live with Kelly and Mark won in 2025. TheWrap says the haul brings the show's all-time total to 29.
Sherri Shepherd won talk host for Sherri, which was cancelled after four seasons, THR reported. The AP said neither Shepherd nor Clarkson attended. Other winners included Tracee Ellis Ross for her travel series, Keke Palmer as an executive producer of the short-form winner Glam Through The Ages, and Ina Garten, who won twice for Be My Guest. A Different Breed beat With Love, Meghan for lifestyle program, the AP noted.
Other moments from the night
- No host: Variety reported there was no host this year; Matthew Hoffman served as announcer.
- Stream only: The AP said the show was streamed for the second straight year after five years on CBS.
- NATAS's message: "Tonight, we celebrated the outstanding talent and enduring impact of daytime television," NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said, TheWrap reported.
- A speech on press freedom: NATAS chair Terry O'Reilly used a mid-show speech to talk about press freedom days before the November 3 midterm elections, THR reported, saying: "The free press in 1800 was not saved by a court. It was saved by citizens who were engaged and informed."
- Industry honors: Byron Allen, Patrika Darbo, Francesca James and Meredith Vieira joined NATAS's Gold Circle, per THR.
How to watch the 2026 Daytime Emmys replay
The ceremony streamed live at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on October 30 (00:00 UTC on October 31) on The Emmys YouTube channel, at watch.theemmys.tv and in The Emmys app, Soap Opera Digest and The TV Watercooler reported. The TV Watercooler said the YouTube stream was available in both the US and Canada.
- YouTube: Fairman's winners story embeds the replay of the official livestream, and watch.theemmys.tv now points to The Emmys YouTube channel.
- The Emmys app: a free login is required, and the app keeps full Daytime Emmy ceremonies going back to 2014, Soap Opera Digest said.
- Full results: NATAS's winners report lists every category, including the craft awards.
What comes next
Several winners' shows are already over. TheWrap notes that The Kelly Clarkson Show and Sherri will be eligible next year for their final seasons. For Francis, February 2027 marks 50 years as Laura.
The Daytime Emmys moved from June to mid-fall in 2025, Variety noted. NATAS had not announced dates for the 2027 ceremony or its nomination window as of October 31, 2026, so check theemmys.tv for updates.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Outstanding Drama Series at the 2026 Daytime Emmys?
General Hospital (ABC) won Outstanding Daytime Drama Series on October 30, 2026, beating Beyond the Gates, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless. It was the show's sixth win in a row and, according to the Associated Press, a record 19th overall. Executive producer Frank Valentini accepted the award.
Who won best actor and best actress at the 2026 Daytime Emmys?
Tamara Tunie won Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for playing Anita Williams Dupree on Beyond the Gates, her first Emmy. Scott Clifton won Lead Actor for playing Liam Spencer on The Bold and the Beautiful, his second win in the category.
Who hosted the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards?
Nobody. Variety reported there was no host for the 53rd ceremony, and announcer Matthew Hoffman guided the show instead. Mario Lopez had hosted in 2025.
Where can I watch the 2026 Daytime Emmys replay?
The ceremony streamed live on The Emmys YouTube channel, at watch.theemmys.tv and in The Emmys app, and the livestream replay is on YouTube. The Emmys app needs a free login and keeps full past ceremonies. The show was not broadcast on network TV.
Which show won the most 2026 Daytime Emmys?
The Kelly Clarkson Show won five awards, the most of any program, including Outstanding Daytime Talk Series. General Hospital and Beyond the Gates won four each, and The Young and the Restless and A Different Breed won three each.
Sources
- 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Winners (winners report), NATAS
- 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Nominees, NATAS (theemmys.tv)
- 'General Hospital' wins outstanding drama series for a record 19th time overall, Associated Press (via WVTM 13)
- 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards: 'General Hospital' Wins Best Daytime Drama, The Hollywood Reporter (via Yahoo)
- 'Kelly Clarkson Show,' 'General Hospital,' 'Beyond the Gates' Lead Daytime Emmys 2026 Winners, Variety (via Yahoo)
- Genie Francis Thanks Husband and Kids for Supporting Her 50-Year TV Career in Daytime Emmys Speech, People (via Yahoo)
- Daytime Emmy Awards 2026 winners: 'Kelly Clarkson,' 'General Hospital', USA Today (via Yahoo)
- 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' Leads 2026 Daytime Emmys (Complete List of Winners), TheWrap
- Daytime Emmys 2026: General Hospital Wins Best Drama Series For Sixth Straight Year, TVLine
- Daytime Emmys 2026: The Complete Winners List, TV Insider
- Daytime Emmys: Jonathan Jackson Surprises Genie Francis With Lifetime Achievement Message, TV Insider
- The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards: The Complete Winners List, Soap Opera Digest
- How to Watch the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards, Soap Opera Digest
- General Hospital's Genie Francis to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2026 Daytime Emmys, Soap Opera Digest
- The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards: Everything You Need To Know About This Year's Ceremony, Soap Opera Digest
- 2026 Daytime Emmy Winners: See the Complete List as Awards Are Announced Live, Soap Hub
- 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Winners: 'General Hospital' Takes Drama Series, Tamara Tunie and Scott Clifton Top Acting Honors, Michael Fairman TV
- How to Watch the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards in Canada, The TV Watercooler
How we wrote this
GessyMorgan explainers are built from public reporting and official sources. This post draws on the 18 sources listed above, each linked where we use it. It was drafted with AI assistance and checked against those sources before publishing. We did not test products, attend events or interview anyone for this article. Facts are current as of October 31, 2026, and we update the post when they change.
