Emmy Predictions 2026 - Who Will and Should Win in Directing for a Drama Series?

The nominations have been announced for The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards. So now, it's time to speculate on which nominees will and should win in each major category. Next up for analysis is Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.

The Nominees Ranked By Which Should Win:

1. Vince Gilligan for Apple TV's Pluribus - "We Is Us"
2. Noah Wyle for HBO Max's The Pitt - "12:00 P.M."
3. Salli Richardson-Whitfield for HBO's The Gilded Age - "My Mind Is Made Up"
4. Saul Metzstein for Apple TV's Slow Horses - "Scars"
5. Salli Richardson-Whitfield for HBO's Task - "Out Beyond Ideas of Wrongdoing and Rightdoing, There Is a River"
6. Hanelle Culpepper for Hulu's Paradise - "Exodus"

The Nominees Ranked by Which Will Win:

1. Vince Gilligan for Apple TV's Pluribus - "We Is Us"
2. Salli Richardson-Whitfield for HBO's Task - "Out Beyond Ideas of Wrongdoing and Rightdoing, There Is a River"
3. Saul Metzstein for Apple TV's Slow Horses - "Scars"
4. Noah Wyle for HBO Max's The Pitt - "12:00 P.M."
5. Hanelle Culpepper for Hulu's Paradise - "Exodus"
6. Salli Richardson-Whitfield for HBO's The Gilded Age - "My Mind Is Made Up"

The ceremony in which the winners of The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will be revealed will air Monday, September 14 at 8/7c. on NBC and Peacock hosted by Emmy Award winner Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU). Technical awards will be announced during the Creative Arts ceremonies on September 5 and 6.