Apple TV Breaks Dominance of HBO and Netflix at the Emmys

For the first time since its launch in late 2019, Apple TV, formerly known as Apple TV+, took home the unofficial, yet highly coveted prize of winning the most awards at the 2026 Emmys. Apple’s streaming service won a total of 28 trophies, including a record-breaking 14 for “Widow’s Bay” and another six for "Pluribus".

It was not only the first time that Apple TV took the top spot at the Emmys, it was also only the second time in 20 years that neither HBO (Max) nor Netflix took home the most awards. The first network to break the Emmy dominance of the two giants was FX in 2024, when “Shogun” and “The Bear”, both FX Originals, were the biggest winners at the 76th Emmys, taking home 18 and 11 trophies, respectively.

Apple’s triumph, just two years after FX first upset the status quo, is another sign that the streaming landscape is becoming increasingly competitive and, to the chagrin of consumers, fragmented.