The DGA, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have come together to push back on the decision to cut five categories — two acting, two directing and one directing — from the main 2026 Emmy telecast Sept. 14 on NBC.

“The Emmys exist to celebrate the best of television and the artists who are central to bringing these stories to life,” the three Hollywood guilds said in a joint statement. “The decision to eliminate these categories from the prime-time broadcast devalues the contributions of the talented people the Academy is meant to honor. An awards show dedicated to recognizing excellence should not reduce recognition for the artists whose work gives it meaning.”

The TV Academy announced earlier today that it plans to move the following categories from the live telecast to the Creative Arts Emmy Awards the weekend before: Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress In a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Writing and Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie as well as Writing For a Variety Series, which had been alternating with Writing For a Variety Special between the main and Creative Arts ceremonies.

In pursuit of stronger ratings that would allow the TV Academy to command a larger license fee, the organization in 2023 tried to remove one of the above categories, Writing For a Variety Series, from the main telecast on Fox and relocate it to the Creative Arts shows. The idea has been to replace categories that have more limited commercial appeal with entertainment content that could draw more viewers.

It didn’t go well. A fiery statement by the WGA on the day of the announcement was followed by a big lobbying effort by writers and late-night hosts that resulted in the TV Academy doing an U-turn and restoring the writing category on the 2024 live show.

In addition to applying pressure on moral grounds, the guilds have other levers to pull in the form of hundreds of thousands of dollars in residual fees they wave for clips used on the main telecast, contingent on it featuring a set minimum number of categories in each field.

How the 2026 Emmys perform in the ratings is important as the TV Academy has to secure a new TV agreement for the show, with the most recent “wheel deal” up after this year’s ceremony.