The Television Academy on Friday revealed some of the upcoming changes to the Emmy Awards rules. This includes a new name for the TV movie category, which will now be known as “Outstanding Movies.” The organization also revealed its AI guidelines, stating that it “reserves the right to inquire about the use of AI in submissions. Our recognition remains centered on human storytelling, regardless of the tools used to bring stories to life.”
The Academy also included changes to the short form format, sound mixing, and music categories, and expanded eligibility in the casting, costume and lighting, camera and technical art categories.
Meanwhile, issues the Academy has yet to address include the conundrum of shrinking the variety series field for good talk and good writing.
The organization announced that it will publish its 2026 Rules and Procedures book the week of January 19th. Here are some of the rule changes announced Friday for the 78th Emmy Awards:
TV Movies Category: “To more accurately reflect the evolving landscape of film content created for broadcast or streaming, the name of the Outstanding TV Movies category has been changed to Outstanding Movies.”
This change comes after there has been much debate in recent years over the definition of a “television movie,” particularly after streamers submitted films that could just as easily have been released theatrically. 2025’s Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy was distributed in many theaters around the world, but was nominated for best TV movie last year because it was released on Peacock in the United States.
“I think there was once a time when there was a ‘made-for-TV movie’ that had a certain characteristic, a certain look and feel, or a certain theme or tone,” the film’s director, Michael Morris, told Variety last year when he wrote an article about the debate over the definition of a “TV movie.” This had been a source of controversy for awards executives and consultants, who had asked the Television Academy to rename the category. Now they can make that wish come true.
Short Program Category: “Outstanding short nonfiction or reality series and outstanding short comedy, drama, or variety series will now be tracked as categories. Two genres will be recognized in each category: original series and series based on/derived from other programs. The number of nominees will be proportional to the number of entries in each genre, with at least one nomination in each genre.”
Sound Mixing Category Split: “Good Sound Mixing for Nonfiction or Reality TV has been split into two categories: Good Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Shows and Good Sound Mixing for Reality TV.”
Music: “Excellent Musical Composition (Original Dramatic Score) for a Documentary/Non-Fiction or Reality Program: Allows eligibility for reality programs that include an original dramatic score.Excellent Main Title Theme Music: Eligibility has been expanded to include a main-on-end theme. Main Title Theme (appears at the beginning of the program) and Main-on-End Title Theme (appears after the final act and before the end credits/crawl) Both are eligible.”
Emmy Eligible Titles: “The following peer groups are expanding the professional titles that are eligible.
Casting: “Associate Casting Director has been added as an eligible title in the Scripted Series category (Comedy, Drama, Limited or Anthology Series). Associate Casting Director applicants must have meaningful creative influence. All qualifications are subject to final and final review by the Casting Director Peer Group Executive Committee to determine major creative contributions.”
Costume: “Key costume has been added as a target title.”
Lighting, Camera, Technical Arts: “Director of Photography has been added as an eligible title in the Technical Direction and Camerawork category if the following conditions are met. It is not eligible in any other category of the contest. You have not submitted a petition for inclusion in the Lighting Direction/Lighting Design category. The Technical Director has been notified and has approved its addition. Note: If there is no eligible Technical Director, the Director is responsible for approving the DP.”
Reality Programming: “Line Producer has been added as an eligible title in all Reality Programming categories.”
The full statement regarding AI can be found here: “The Television Academy reserves the right to inquire about the use of AI in submissions. The core of our recognition remains centered on human storytelling, regardless of the tools used to bring the story to life.”
Previously announced rule changes for 2026 include:
Legacy Awards: “The Television Academy announces the creation of the Legacy Awards, which recognize television programs that have had a deep and lasting impact on viewers and remain relevant to society, culture and industry.”
Casting: “To streamline the number of reality casting titles eligible for Emmy consideration, the following titles will be eligible for Emmy competition in 2026:
cast
casting officer
general casting director
Supervising casting producer
senior casting director
casting director
senior casting producer
casting producer
Celebrity casting
Music – “Main Title Theme: The main title theme must appear in at least 50% of eligible episodes submitted to the 2026 Emmy competition. The main title theme is further defined as a program’s discernible and unique musical fingerprint and calling card, thereby drawing viewers in by setting the tone and future development of the program.”
Here’s the complete list of new rules for the 78th Emmy Awards.
