2026 Daytime Emmy Winners: General Hospital, Beyond the Gates and Kelly Clarkson Score Big
The Daytime Emmys handed out their gold on Friday, October 30, and daytime television had plenty to celebrate. From familiar soap opera favorites to breakout performances and major talk show victories, the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards brought together some of the biggest names in daytime television at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
General Hospital walked away with Outstanding Daytime Drama Series once again, proving Port Charles still knows how to dominate an awards ceremony. Meanwhile, CBS newcomer Beyond the Gates made quite an entrance in its first year of eligibility, collecting four awards, including a major acting victory for Tamara Tunie.
General Hospital and Beyond the Gates Deliver Big Soap Victories
General Hospital claimed four awards, including Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, Outstanding Writing Team, Outstanding Casting and Outstanding Guest Performance for Jeff Kober, who portrays Cyrus Renault.
But Beyond the Gates wasn't about to let the established soaps have all the fun. Tamara Tunie earned Outstanding Lead Actress for her portrayal of Anita Williams Dupree, while Ambyr Michelle won Outstanding Emerging Talent for her performance as Eva Thomas. The CBS drama also picked up awards for lighting direction and hairstyling and makeup, giving the freshman series quite the impressive showing.
Elsewhere in the soap world, Scott Clifton won Outstanding Lead Actor for his portrayal of Liam Spencer on The Bold and the Beautiful. The Young and the Restless celebrated victories for Roger Howarth and Beth Maitland in the supporting acting categories, along with a costume design win. Days of our Lives earned the award for Outstanding Directing Team.
And in one of the evening's most meaningful moments, General Hospital legend Genie Francis received a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing nearly five decades of work as Laura Collins. Now that's a daytime television legacy worth celebrating.
The Kelly Clarkson Show Leads the Night
Outside the fictional worlds of Port Charles, Fairmont Crest and Genoa City, The Kelly Clarkson Show had plenty of reasons to celebrate. The daytime talk show led all programs with five wins, including Outstanding Daytime Talk Series, directing, sound, scenic design and a shared hairstyling and makeup award.
Sherri Shepherd also earned a victory, taking home Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host for Sherri. Meanwhile, Entertainment Tonight won Outstanding Entertainment News Series, and Ina Garten claimed Outstanding Culinary Host for Be My Guest with Ina Garten.
From daytime drama veterans to newcomers making their presence felt, the 2026 ceremony delivered recognition across television's many daytime genres.
2026 Daytime Emmy Awards: Complete Winners List
Daytime Drama Categories
Outstanding Daytime Drama Series: General Hospital (ABC)
Outstanding Lead Performance – Actress: Tamara Tunie as Anita Williams Dupree, Beyond the Gates (CBS)
Outstanding Lead Performance – Actor: Scott Clifton as Liam Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Performance – Actress: Beth Maitland as Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Performance – Actor: Roger Howarth as Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Outstanding Emerging Talent: Ambyr Michelle as Eva Thomas, Beyond the Gates (CBS)
Outstanding Guest Performance: Jeff Kober as Cyrus Renault, General Hospital (ABC)
Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series: General Hospital (ABC)
Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series: Days of our Lives (Peacock)
Talk Shows, Entertainment and News
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series: The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBCUniversal Syndication Studios)
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host: Sherri Shepherd, Sherri
Outstanding Entertainment News Series: Entertainment Tonight (CBS Media Ventures)
Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program: Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter (IFC)
Outstanding Daytime Special: Unleashing Hope: The Power of Service Dogs for Children with Autism (Hulu)
Outstanding Daytime Short Form Program: Glam Through The Ages (KeyTV Network)
Outstanding Daytime Personality – Daily: Star Jones and Corey Jovan, Divorce Court (FOX)
Outstanding Daytime Personality – Non-Daily: Giada De Laurentiis, Giada in My Kitchen (Prime Video)
Culinary, Lifestyle and Informational Programming
Outstanding Culinary Instructional Series: Be My Guest with Ina Garten (Food Network)
Outstanding Culinary Cultural Series: Lucky Chow (PBS)
Outstanding Culinary Host: Ina Garten, Be My Guest with Ina Garten (Food Network)
Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Series: Justice for the People with Judge Milian (Entertainment Studios)
Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program: Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross (Roku)
Outstanding Instructional/How-To Program: Home Town Takeover (HGTV)
Outstanding Lifestyle Program: A Different Breed (InkBlot Narratives)
Writing, Directing and Production
Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Non-Fiction Series (Tie):
Expedition Unknown — "Searching for World War II's Lost Hero" (Discovery Channel)
This Old House — "Asheville Rebuilds" (PBS/Roku)
Outstanding Directing for a Daytime Non-Studio Non-Fiction Series: A Different Breed — "The Season Begins"
Outstanding Directing for a Daytime Studio Non-Fiction Series: The Kelly Clarkson Show — Episode 5033
Outstanding Music Direction and Composition: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC/Peacock)
Outstanding Technical Direction and Video for a Daytime Studio Program: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC/Peacock)
Outstanding Cinematography or Camerawork: Long Way Home — "Lost in Lapland" (Apple)
Outstanding Editing for a Daytime Non-Studio Program: A Different Breed — "The Season Begins"
Outstanding Editing for a Daytime Studio Program: Craft Roundtables — "Editors" (IndieWire)
Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Prerecorded Daytime Program: Long Way Home — "Lost in Lapland" (Apple)
Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for a Live Daytime Program: The Kelly Clarkson Show — Episode 5007
Design, Styling and Technical Achievements
Outstanding Lighting Direction: Beyond the Gates — Episode 104 (CBS)
Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design: The Kelly Clarkson Show — Episode 5033
Outstanding Costume Design/Styling: The Young and the Restless — Episode 13273 (CBS)
Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup (Tie):
Beyond the Gates — Episode 103 (CBS)
The Kelly Clarkson Show — Episode 5033
Outstanding Casting: General Hospital (ABC)
Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design: The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures)
Outstanding Regional Content in a Daytime Genre: Requiem for Colour: A Journey through Lament and Joy (MultyCam)
Lifetime Achievement Honors
Genie Francis — General Hospital
Lidia Bastianich — Television chef, author and culinary personality
The 2026 Daytime Emmys may be over, but the conversation certainly isn't. Between General Hospital extending its winning streak, Beyond the Gates establishing itself as an awards contender and several daytime favorites finally getting their flowers, there was plenty to celebrate.
Now comes the real question: Did the right shows and performers take home the gold, or did the voters leave a few deserving names behind?
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